The Village Idiom

depart with

The idiom "depart with" means to part with or give up something, often reluctantly or with some regret. It implies the act of letting go of something that was previously held or possessed.

Places & travel · Filed under D

In a sentence

  • She decided to depart with her old clothes and donate them to charity.
  • He reluctantly departed with his favorite book when his friend needed to borrow it.
  • They agreed to depart with half of their savings to invest in a new business venture.

Where it comes from and how it is used

The idiom depart with has several meanings and can be used in different contexts. Here are the facts about this idiom:

The word depart comes from the Latin word for "to divide" or "to separate." It entered the English language in the late 13th century and has evolved over time.

Depart with is usually used in a financial or possession-related context, referring to someone parting or separating from something of value, either willingly or unwillingly.

In a financial sense, depart with is often used when discussing the act of giving or spending money or assets. For example, "I had to depart with a significant amount of money to purchase that car."

In a possession-related context, depart with can express the act of relinquishing or letting go of something valuable, whether it be physical or metaphorical. For instance, "She found it difficult to depart with her childhood home."

This idiom is often used when there is a sense of reluctance or sacrifice involved in parting with something. It can also connote a sense of emotional attachment or sentimental value associated with the object in question.

Depart with and the idiom take one's leave are related. Both indicate the act of leaving or saying goodbye, although depart with specifically implies parting with something of value. For example, "As the party drew to a close, he took his leave and departed with a smile on his face."

The idiom drop out is also related to depart with. While depart with focuses on parting with something valuable, drop out refers to leaving a group or organization. It can be used in both formal and informal settings. For instance, "She decided to drop out of college and depart with her dreams of becoming an artist."

Finally, depart with is related to the idiom branch off. While depart with focuses on parting with something valuable, branch off refers to the act of separating or splitting into different directions or paths. It can be used both literally and metaphorically. For example, "After working together for years, the business partners decided to branch off and depart with their own respective ventures."

The usage of depart with is primarily common in informal or spoken English, though it can also be found in written texts. Due to its figurative nature, this idiom may convey different meanings depending on the context and the speaker's intention.

While the idiom depart with has established meanings, idioms are dynamic and subject to change over time. The meaning of this idiom may continue to evolve as language and new contexts emerge.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.