verb (used without object)
- to go away; leave: She departed from Paris today. The train departs at 10:52.
- to diverge or deviate (usually followed by from): The new method departs from the old in several respects.
- to pass away, as from life or existence; die.
verb (used with object)
- to go away from; leave: to depart this life.
noun
- Archaic. departure; death.
verb (mainly intr)
- to go away; leave
- to start out; set forth
- (usually foll by from) to deviate; differ; varyto depart from normal procedure
- (tr) to quit (archaic, except in the phrase depart this life)
mid-13c., “part from each other,” from Old French departir (10c.) “to divide, distribute; separate (oneself), depart; die,” from Late Latin departire “divide” (transitive), from de- “from” (see de-) + partire “to part, divide,” from pars (genitive partis) “a part” (see part (n.)).
As a euphemism for “to die” (to depart this life; cf. Old French departir de cest siecle) it is attested from c.1500, as is the departed for “the dead,” singly or collectively. Transitive lingers in some English usages; the wedding service was till death us depart until 1662. Related: Departed; departing.