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Rescind and the lesser-known words exscind and prescind all come from the Latin verb scindere, which means "to cut" or "to split." Rescind was adapted from its Latin predecessor rescindere in the 16th century, and prescind (from praescindere) and exscind (from exscindere) followed in the next century. Exscind means "to cut off" or "to excise," and prescind means "to withdraw one's attention," but of the three borrowings, only rescind established itself as a common English term. Today, rescind is most often heard in contexts having to do with someone rescinding a contract or an offer, or with a legislative body rescinding a law.
Synonyms
Examples of rescind in a Sentence
Kai Bird et al., Smithsonian, Aug. 2005
But Maria convinced Leverich that she had the authority to rescind the executor's decision to appoint him as biographer.
—John Lahr, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 1994
The Navy barred its personnel from his church, but he challenged the decree in federal court as a constitutional violation of freedom of religion. Eventually, the Navy rescinded its ban.
—Randall Samborn, National Law Journal, 14 Jan. 1991
The navy rescinded its ban on women sailors.
The company later rescinded its offer.
Joanne Haner, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024
In addition, Nicky Jam rescinded his previous Trump endorsement on Wednesday and lined up behind Harris.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2024
Whether the Women Like It or Not' A month after appearing at a Trump rally to back the presidential hopeful, reggaeton superstar Nicky Jam rescinded his endorsement on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
—Brian Brant, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Reggaeton artist Nicky Jam rescinded his endorsement of former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, following comments made about Puerto Rico by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally held Sunday in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
—Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near rescind
Cite this Entry
“Rescind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rescind. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rescind
verb
Legal Definition
rescind
verb
Latin rescindere to cut loose, annul, from re- away, back + scindere to cut, split
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