resign
Definitions
To officially leave a job or position.
辞职，辞去（职务）。
To accept something unpleasant as unavoidable (resign oneself to).
听任，使顺从（resign oneself to）。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedre- (back) + sign (to sign/mark) = 'to sign back, to un-sign.' Latin resignāre meant to unseal or cancel. To resign a post is to formally give it back — to cancel the signature that bound you to it. The reflexive 'resign oneself to' turns inward: you sign yourself over to fate and stop resisting.
Root sign still carries 17 more wordsUsage Guide
- Spelling trap: the 'g' is silent (ri-ZINE), unlike re-SIGN meaning 'to sign again' (a hyphenated, rare form).
- Job sense (formal): resign from a post, resign as CEO — voluntary, official departure.
- Acceptance sense (formal): resign oneself to a fate — give up resistance. Almost always reflexive ('resign oneself/myself to').
Example Sentences
- 1.
The minister was forced to resign after the scandal.
- 2.
She resigned from her teaching job to travel the world.
- 3.
He resigned himself to a long wait at the airport.