DEPART

Definition of DEPART

DEPART Verb

Depart is a verb, it means to leave or go away from a place, especially to begin a journey. Depart refers to the act of leaving, or the process of departure.

As a verb, depart refers to the act of leaving a particular place or location, often for the purpose of going somewhere else. For example, “The plane will depart at 7:00 AM,” or “She departed from the city to start her new job.” In these contexts, depart indicates the action of leaving, either temporarily or permanently, and is often used in the context of travel or transitions.

To Start a Journey or Leave for a Destination: Depart is commonly used to describe the initiation of travel or movement from one place to another. For example, “They will depart for the conference tomorrow,” or “He departed for his vacation last week.” Here, depart signifies the act of starting a journey or leaving one place to go to another.

To Stray or Deviate: In addition to physical departure, depart can also be used metaphorically to indicate a deviation from a particular course, idea, or belief. For example, “His speech departed from the usual topic,” or “She departed from her previous political stance.” In this sense, depart is used to indicate a change in direction, either in thought, behavior, or action.

Depart vs. Leave vs. Exit: While depart, leave, and exit all imply the act of going away from a place, depart often conveys a more formal or intentional sense of leaving. For example, “The train left the station on time,” versus “The train departed the station at 5:00 PM.” Depart can carry a sense of scheduled or planned departure, while leave is more general and can apply to any instance of going away. Exit, on the other hand, typically refers to leaving through an opening or a specific point, often more immediately or suddenly.

A Formal or Official Departure: In some contexts, depart is used in a more formal or official manner to refer to someone’s leaving a position or role. For example, “The CEO’s depart from the company was announced yesterday,” or “The employee’s depart will take place next month.” In these cases, depart emphasizes the significance or formality of the departure, often in a professional or organizational context.

Departing in Emotional or Psychological Contexts: In emotional or psychological contexts, depart can be used metaphorically to describe the act of moving away from a state of mind or feeling. For example, “He departed from his usual calm demeanor,” or “She departed from her previous feelings of uncertainty.” Here, depart signifies a shift in emotional or mental state, often suggesting a change in perspective or attitude.

In conclusion, depart is both a verb and a noun that denotes the act of leaving a place, beginning a journey, or deviating from a course of action. Whether used to describe physical movement, the start of travel, or metaphorical changes in thought or behavior, depart emphasizes the transition from one state or location to another. It can also be used in formal contexts to refer to the process of leaving a position or role, making it versatile in various situations, both literal and figurative.

Examples of DEPART in a sentence

• The train will depart from the station at 9 a.m.
• We need to depart early to avoid traffic.
• The flight departed on time despite the bad weather.
• She decided to depart from her usual routine and try something new.
• The ship departed after the passengers had boarded.
• They will depart tomorrow morning for their vacation.
• He chose to depart from the company after ten years.
• The bus departed without waiting for the late passengers.

Origin of DEPART

Depart is a verb that means to leave, go away from, or set out from a place or position.

Semantic Context: Depart is commonly used to describe the act of leaving a location, beginning a journey, or moving away from a particular state or condition. It also can mean to deviate or diverge from a norm, tradition, or expectation.

• Etymological Roots: The word depart comes from Old French departir, derived from Latin departire, which combines de- (“away”) and partire (“to divide, separate”).
• Historical Development: Used since Middle English, depart originally described physical leaving or setting out and later expanded metaphorically to include deviation from customs or norms.
• Cultural and Social Applications: Depart is used in travel, literature, social discourse, and formal contexts to indicate leaving or divergence.
• Current Usage: Today, depart remains a formal or literary term for leaving or beginning a journey, and also for moving away from established ideas or behaviors.

The term depart emphasizes leaving or moving away, highlighting transition, separation, or divergence.