catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Resign \Re*sign"\ (r?-z?n"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Resigned
     (-z?nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Resigning.] [F. r['e]signer, L.
     resignare to unseal, annul, assign, resign; pref. re- re- +
     signare to seal, stamp. See Sign, and cf. Resignation.]
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     1. To sign back; to return by a formal act; to yield to
        another; to surrender; -- said especially of office or
        emolument. Hence, to give up; to yield; to submit; -- said
        of the wishes or will, or of something valued; -- also
        often used reflexively.
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              I here resign my government to thee.  --Shak.
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              Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign
              What justly thou hast lost.           --Milton.
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              What more reasonable, than that we should in all
              things resign up ourselves to the will of God?
                                                    --Tiilotson.
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     2. To relinquish; to abandon.
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              He soon resigned his former suit.     --Spenser.
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     3. To commit to the care of; to consign. [Obs.]
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              Gentlement of quality have been sent beyong the
              seas, resigned and concredited to the conduct of
              such as they call governors.          --Evelyn.
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     Syn: To abdicate; surrender; submit; leave; relinquish;
          forego; quit; forsake; abandon; renounce.
  
     Usage: Resign, Relinquish. To resign is to give up, as if
            breaking a seal and yielding all it had secured;
            hence, it marks a formal and deliberate surrender. To
            relinquish is less formal, but always implies
            abandonment and that the thing given up has been long
            an object of pursuit, and, usually, that it has been
            prized and desired. We resign what we once held or
            considered as our own, as an office, employment, etc.
            We speak of relinquishing a claim, of relinquishing
            some advantage we had sought or enjoyed, of
            relinquishing seme right, privilege, etc. ``Men are
            weary with the toil which they bear, but can not find
            it in their hearts to relinquish it.'' --Steele. See
            Abdicate.
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  Resigned \Re*signed"\ (r[-e]*z[imac]nd"), a.
     Submissive; yielding; not disposed to resist or murmur.
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           A firm, yet cautious mind;
           Sincere, though prudent; constant, yet resigned.
                                                    --Pope.
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