leave-taking
UK[ˈliːvˌteɪkɪŋ]US[ˈliːvˌteɪkɪŋ]
n
The act of saying goodbye; a farewell.
Morpheme Breakdown
leave
taking
leave
depart
taking
act of
Etymology
The compound "leave-taking" is a transparent English formation from the native Germanic elements "leave" and "taking". The word "leave" in the sense of "departure" or "permission to depart" evolved from the Old English concept of allowing something to remain behind. "Taking" originates from the Old Norse verb for seizing or grasping. When combined, the literal action of "taking one's leave" or "seizing permission to depart" became lexicalized into a single noun describing the formal or ceremonial act of saying farewell. This process exemplifies how English can create precise, descriptive compound nouns from its core Germanic vocabulary.
Analysis
Structure: leave (depart) + taking (act of)
- leave: From Old English lǣfan (to allow to remain, bequeath), related to lēof (dear, beloved). In this compound, it carries the sense of "departure" or "permission to depart".
- taking: From Old English tacan (to grasp, seize), from Old Norse taka. The suffix -ing forms a verbal noun, indicating the action or process.
Examples
There were tears and long embraces during the emotional leave-taking at the airport.
The novel's final chapter is a poignant leave-taking from all the main characters.
In many cultures, a formal leave-taking involves specific words and gestures.