Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CEDE, v.t. [Fr. ceder; Sp. and Port. ceder; It. cedere; L. cedo; W. gadu, gadaw; Eng. to quit. See Quit and Conge. This coincides also with the Gr. χαζω, εχαδον.]

1. To yield; to surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cede a fortress, a province or country, by treaty. This word is appropriately used to denote the relinquishment of a conquered city, fortress or territory to the former sovereign or proprietor.
2. To relinquish and grant; as, to cede all claims to a disputed right or territory. The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights. – Jay.