The Latin verb cedere means to go away, to withdraw, to yield, to grant, to surrender possession.

From this derives the English verb to cede:

• Russia ceded Alaska to the U.S. in 1867.
• After a lively debate, she finally ceded the point to her opponent.

By the addition of prefixes also derived from Latin, the verb to cede has acquired various offspring:

To recede meaning to go backwards:

• His hairline receded over the years.
• It was many days before the floodwaters began to recede.

To accede meaning to give one’s consent or to come into a public office:

• He finally acceded to the request for clearer information.
• The Queen acceded to the throne in 1953.

To precede meaning to go before:

• The main feature film is often preceded by some lengthy adverts.
• Jim preceded Eric in the long line of Rita’s husbands.

To secede meaning to withdraw formally from membership of an organisation, association, or alliance:

• The kingdom of Belgium seceded from the Netherlands in 1830.
• Many countries gained independence when they seceded from the crumbling Soviet Union.

To concede meaning to acknowledge as true, just, or proper, to admit, to grant or to yield:

• He finally conceded that she had been right to sell the shares when she did.
• Just before midnight, as the final votes were being counted, the government conceded defeat.

To intercede meaning to plead on another’s behalf or to act as a mediator in a dispute:

• When she was accused of lying, several employees interceded on her behalf.
• Catholics often ask the saints to intercede with God to grant their prayers.