leave

noun

Leave — the polite act of departing, formally acknowledged before going

Definition

The act of departing politely; "he disliked long farewells"; "he took his leave"; "parting is such sweet sorrow"

In depth

Leave, in this specific noun sense, names the act of departing politely, as in the phrase 'he took his leave,' a formal acknowledgment of one's intention to go before actually doing so. The word also carries a separate, common sense of authorized absence from work or duty, a usage writers should distinguish through context.

Origin

The word descends from Old English leaf, permission, related to the verb 'leave' meaning to depart, both rooted in an old sense concerning what is granted or permitted. The connection between asking permission and the act of departing reflects an older social formality, in which leaving someone's presence required, however briefly, their acknowledgment and consent.

Usage examples

"He took his leave with a brief, formal bow that suited the occasion perfectly."

"She requested leave from her duties to attend to the family emergency."

"Taking leave of old friends had never grown easier, no matter how many times she had done it."

How to use it

As a noun for departure, leave appears mainly in the somewhat formal phrase 'to take one's leave,' while its far more common modern sense, authorized absence from work, belongs to an entirely separate professional and administrative context.