← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
What does discédere mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
The verb discédere (principal parts: discédo, discédere, discessī, discessum) is a third conjugation verb meaning “to depart,” “to leave,” “to go away,” or “to withdraw.” Formed from the prefix dis- (apart, away) and cédere (to go, to yield), it expresses physical departure from a place, spiritual separation from sin or the world, and the final departure of the soul from the body at death.
In Ecclesiastical Latin, discédere carries profound theological weight. It appears in one of the most solemn passages of Scripture: Christ’s words at the Last Judgment, “Discédite a mē” (”Depart from me” — Matthew 7:23, 25:41). This terrible command represents eternal banishment from the divine presence. Conversely, the verb also describes the blessed departure of saints from this life to eternal glory, as in the Canticle of Simeon: “Nunc dīmittis servum tuum, Domine” where the related verb dīmittere echoes the same theme of holy departure.
Unlike relínquere (covered in Lesson 144), which emphasises leaving something behind or abandoning, discédere focuses on the act of going away itself — the movement of departure rather than what is forsaken. When the disciples leave a town, when a sinner departs from evil, when the soul leaves the body — these motions employ discédere.
Key Takeaways:
• Discédere means “to depart, go away, leave” with emphasis on the movement itself • Third conjugation verb with perfect stem discess- (discessī, discessum) • Theologically significant in judgment passages and descriptions of death • Often takes ā/ab + ablative to express “depart from” • Distinct from relínquere (abandon) and exīre (go out)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
discédere /disˈtʃe.de.re/ — The c before e is pronounced as /tʃ/ (like English “ch”) in Ecclesiastical pronunciation. Stress falls on the second syllable: dis-CÉ-de-re.
discessit /diˈʃes.sit/ — Perfect tense “he/she departed.” Note the double ss in the perfect stem. The sc before e produces the /ʃ/ sound.
discédite /disˈtʃe.di.te/ — Imperative plural “depart ye!” This is the form Christ uses in the judgment passages.
discédam /disˈtʃe.dam/ — First person singular future “I shall depart.”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
206.1 Discédite depart-ye-IMPER ā from mē me omnēs all quī who operāminī you-work inīquitātem iniquity-ACC
206.2 Angelus angel-NOM Dominī of-Lord-GEN discessit departed ab from eīs them-ABL
206.3 Nōlī do-not-wish-IMPER discédere to-depart ā from mē me Domine Lord-VOC
206.4 Postquam after discessērunt they-departed Magī Magi-NOM ecce behold angelus angel-NOM appāruit appeared
206.5 Monachī monks-NOM ā from mundō world-ABL discēdunt depart ut so-that Deō to-God-DAT serviant they-may-serve-SUBJ
206.6 Tempus time-NOM est is iam now mē me-ACC discédere to-depart ex out-of hōc this-ABL saeculō age-ABL
206.7 Frātrēs brothers-NOM discessērunt departed in into pāce peace-ABL gaudentēs rejoicing-NOM-PL
206.8 Sī if nōn not recēperint they-shall-receive vōs you-ACC discédite depart-ye-IMPER ab from illā that-ABL cīvitāte city-ABL
206.9 Daemonia demons-NOM discessērunt departed ab from homine man-ABL illō that-ABL
206.10 Cum when discessisset he-had-departed-PLUPERF-SUBJ Iēsus Jesus-NOM turba crowd-NOM secūta having-followed est is eum him-ACC
206.11 Nēmō no-one pōnēns placing-PTCP manum hand-ACC suam his-own-ACC ad to arātrum plough-ACC et and retro backwards discēdēns departing-PTCP aptus fit-NOM est is rēgnō for-kingdom-DAT Deī of-God-GEN
206.12 Pāstor shepherd-NOM bonus good-NOM nōn not discedit departs ā from grege flock-ABL suō his-own-ABL
206.13 Beātus blessed-NOM Stephanus Stephen-NOM prōtomartyr protomartyr-NOM discessit departed ad to Dominum Lord-ACC ōrāns praying-PTCP
206.14 Apostolī apostles-NOM nōn not discessērunt departed ab from Ierūsalem Jerusalem-ABL sīcut just-as Dominus Lord-NOM praecēperat had-commanded
206.15 Oportet it-is-necessary mē me-ACC discédere to-depart ut so-that Spīritus Spirit-NOM Sānctus Holy-NOM veniat may-come-SUBJ ad to vōs you-ACC
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
206.1 Discédite ā mē omnēs quī operāminī inīquitātem. → “Depart from me, all you who work iniquity.”
206.2 Angelus Dominī discessit ab eīs. → “The angel of the Lord departed from them.”
206.3 Nōlī discédere ā mē, Domine. → “Do not depart from me, O Lord.”
206.4 Postquam discessērunt Magī, ecce angelus appāruit. → “After the Magi departed, behold, an angel appeared.”
206.5 Monachī ā mundō discēdunt ut Deō serviant. → “Monks depart from the world so that they may serve God.”
206.6 Tempus est iam mē discédere ex hōc saeculō. → “It is now time for me to depart from this age.”
206.7 Frātrēs discessērunt in pāce gaudentēs. → “The brothers departed in peace, rejoicing.”
206.8 Sī nōn recēperint vōs, discédite ab illā cīvitāte. → “If they shall not receive you, depart from that city.”
206.9 Daemonia discessērunt ab homine illō. → “The demons departed from that man.”
206.10 Cum discessisset Iēsus, turba secūta est eum. → “When Jesus had departed, the crowd followed him.”
206.11 Nēmō pōnēns manum suam ad arātrum et retro discēdēns aptus est rēgnō Deī. → “No one who puts his hand to the plough and turns back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
206.12 Pāstor bonus nōn discedit ā grege suō. → “The good shepherd does not depart from his flock.”
206.13 Beātus Stephanus prōtomartyr discessit ad Dominum ōrāns. → “Blessed Stephen the protomartyr departed to the Lord while praying.”
206.14 Apostolī nōn discessērunt ab Ierūsalem sīcut Dominus praecēperat. → “The apostles did not depart from Jerusalem, just as the Lord had commanded.”
206.15 Oportet mē discédere ut Spīritus Sānctus veniat ad vōs. → “It is necessary for me to depart so that the Holy Spirit may come to you.”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
206.1 Discédite ā mē omnēs quī operāminī inīquitātem.
206.2 Angelus Dominī discessit ab eīs.
206.3 Nōlī discédere ā mē, Domine.
206.4 Postquam discessērunt Magī, ecce angelus appāruit.
206.5 Monachī ā mundō discēdunt ut Deō serviant.
206.6 Tempus est iam mē discédere ex hōc saeculō.
206.7 Frātrēs discessērunt in pāce gaudentēs.
206.8 Sī nōn recēperint vōs, discédite ab illā cīvitāte.
206.9 Daemonia discessērunt ab homine illō.
206.10 Cum discessisset Iēsus, turba secūta est eum.
206.11 Nēmō pōnēns manum suam ad arātrum et retro discēdēns aptus est rēgnō Deī.
206.12 Pāstor bonus nōn discedit ā grege suō.
206.13 Beātus Stephanus prōtomartyr discessit ad Dominum ōrāns.
206.14 Apostolī nōn discessērunt ab Ierūsalem sīcut Dominus praecēperat.
206.15 Oportet mē discédere ut Spīritus Sānctus veniat ad vōs.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for discédere in Ecclesiastical Latin:
Principal Parts and Conjugation:
The verb discédere follows the third conjugation pattern: -
discédo (I depart) — 1st person singular present indicative active -
discédere (to depart) — present active infinitive -
discessī (I departed) — 1st person singular perfect indicative active -
discessum (the supine / perfect passive participle stem)
The present stem is discéd- with the characteristic third conjugation vowel pattern (short e or i depending on the form). The perfect stem is discess- with the characteristic -ss- doubling.
Present Indicative Active:
discédo, discédis, discédit, discédimus, discéditis, discédunt
Perfect Indicative Active:
discessī, discessistī, discessit, discessimus, discessistis, discessērunt
Imperative Forms:
The imperative is especially important for this verb due to its use in judgment passages: -
discéde — singular imperative “depart!” (addressed to one person) -
discédite — plural imperative “depart!” (addressed to multiple persons)
Christ uses discédite (plural) in Matthew 7:23 and 25:41 when addressing the damned.
Constructions with Prepositions:
Discédere typically governs the preposition ā/ab + ablative to express “depart from”: -
Discédite ā mē — “Depart from me“ -
Discessit ab eīs — “He departed from them“
It can also take ex + ablative for “depart out of”: -
Discédere ex hōc saeculō — “To depart from this age“
Temporal and Subordinate Clauses:
The verb frequently appears in temporal clauses with cum (when) + subjunctive (pluperfect subjunctive for past time): -
Cum discessisset Iēsus — “When Jesus had departed“
It also appears in purpose clauses with ut + subjunctive: -
Oportet mē discédere ut Spīritus veniat — “It is necessary for me to depart so that the Spirit may come“
Semantic Distinction from Related Verbs: -
discédere — to depart, go away (emphasis on the movement of leaving) -
relínquere — to leave behind, abandon (emphasis on what is forsaken) -
exīre — to go out, exit (emphasis on passing through a boundary) -
abīre — to go away (more general term for departure)
Common Mistakes:
English speakers often confuse discédere with relínquere. Remember: -
“The monk left the monastery” (physically departed) = discessit ā monastēriō -
“The monk left his family behind” (abandoned) = relīquit famīliam suam
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Theology of Departure:
In Ecclesiastical Latin, discédere carries weight far beyond its basic meaning of physical movement. The verb appears at critical moments in salvation history: the departure of angels after delivering divine messages, the withdrawal of Christ from unbelieving towns, the departure of demons from those they possessed, and most terrifyingly, the eternal banishment of the wicked from God’s presence.
The Judgment Passages:
The most famous ecclesiastical use of discédere appears in Christ’s words at the Last Judgment. In Matthew 7:23, Christ declares to those who prophesied and worked wonders in his name but did not do the Father’s will: “Discédite ā mē, quī operāminī inīquitātem” — “Depart from me, you who work iniquity.” In Matthew 25:41, the judgment upon the damned is even more explicit: “Discédite ā mē, malédictī, in ignem aeternum” — “Depart from me, you cursed ones, into everlasting fire.”
These passages have shaped Christian moral theology and preaching for two millennia. The verb discédite became synonymous with damnation itself — to be commanded to depart from Christ is to be separated eternally from the source of all blessedness.
Monastic and Ascetical Usage:
In monastic literature, discédere ā mundō (to depart from the world) describes the fundamental movement of religious life. The monk or nun “departs” from worldly concerns, attachments, and ambitions to live in closer union with God. This departure is not mere physical relocation but a spiritual reorientation of the entire person.
The Desert Fathers spoke of fuga saeculi (flight from the age), and discédere often appears in their sayings to describe the necessary separation from sin and worldly distraction that precedes spiritual progress.
Death as Holy Departure:
Ecclesiastical Latin frequently uses discédere as a euphemism for death, particularly holy death. When a saint “departs to the Lord” (discessit ad Dominum), the verb conveys not extinction but transition — a journey from earthly life to heavenly glory. This usage reflects the Christian understanding of death as departure from a foreign land to one’s true homeland.
Liturgical Context:
The Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dīmittis) uses the related verb dīmittere rather than discédere, but the theme of blessed departure permeates the liturgy. The prayers for the dying (Commendātiō Animae) and the funeral rites speak of the soul’s departure (discessus animae) from the body as a liberation and homecoming.
Reminder: This lesson is designed for English speakers learning Ecclesiastical Latin.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The following authentic passage from the Latin Vulgate demonstrates the theological depth of discédere:
From the Vulgate Bible: Matthew 7:21-23 (Jerome’s Translation)
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Nōn not omnis everyone-NOM quī who dīcit says mihi to-me-DAT Domine Lord-VOC Domine Lord-VOC intrābit shall-enter in into rēgnum kingdom-ACC caelōrum of-heavens-GEN sed but quī he-who facit does voluntātem will-ACC Patris of-Father-GEN meī my-GEN quī who in in caelīs heavens-ABL est is ipse he-himself intrābit shall-enter in into rēgnum kingdom-ACC caelōrum of-heavens-GEN
Multī many-NOM dīcent shall-say mihi to-me-DAT in in illā that-ABL diē day-ABL Domine Lord-VOC Domine Lord-VOC nōnne not-indeed in in tuō your-ABL nōmine name-ABL prophētāvimus we-prophesied et and in in tuō your-ABL nōmine name-ABL daemonia demons-ACC ēiēcimus we-cast-out et and in in tuō your-ABL nōmine name-ABL virtūtēs powerful-deeds-ACC multās many-ACC fēcimus we-did
Et and tunc then cōnfitēbor I-shall-declare illīs to-them-DAT Quia that numquam never nōvī I-knew vōs you-ACC discédite depart-ye-IMPER ā from mē me-ABL quī you-who operāminī you-work inīquitātem iniquity-ACC
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Nōn omnis quī dīcit mihi, Domine, Domine, intrābit in rēgnum caelōrum, sed quī facit voluntātem Patris meī quī in caelīs est, ipse intrābit in rēgnum caelōrum. Multī dīcent mihi in illā diē: Domine, Domine, nōnne in tuō nōmine prophētāvimus, et in tuō nōmine daemonia ēiēcimus, et in tuō nōmine virtūtēs multās fēcimus? Et tunc cōnfitēbor illīs: Quia numquam nōvī vōs; discédite ā mē, quī operāminī inīquitātem.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many shall say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I shall declare to them: ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who work iniquity.’”
F-C: Original Latin Text Only
Nōn omnis quī dīcit mihi, Domine, Domine, intrābit in rēgnum caelōrum, sed quī facit voluntātem Patris meī quī in caelīs est, ipse intrābit in rēgnum caelōrum. Multī dīcent mihi in illā diē: Domine, Domine, nōnne in tuō nōmine prophētāvimus, et in tuō nōmine daemonia ēiēcimus, et in tuō nōmine virtūtēs multās fēcimus? Et tunc cōnfitēbor illīs: Quia numquam nōvī vōs; discédite ā mē, quī operāminī inīquitātem.
F-D: Grammar Commentary
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount contains several important grammatical features:
The verb discédite is the second person plural imperative of discédere. Christ addresses the condemned collectively. The force of this imperative is not a request but an absolute command from the divine Judge.
The phrase ā mē employs the preposition ā (variant of ab) with the ablative mē. In Ecclesiastical Latin, ā is typically used before consonants (including m), while ab appears before vowels.
The relative clause quī operāminī inīquitātem uses the second person plural present indicative deponent verb operāminī (from operor, operārī). Though deponent in form (passive endings), it carries active meaning: “you who work.” The direct object inīquitātem is in the accusative case.
The phrase numquam nōvī vōs (”I never knew you”) uses the perfect tense nōvī from nōscō. This perfect has present force (”I know” from “I have come to know”), so numquam nōvī means “I have never known / I do not know and never have known.”
The contrast between external religious activity (prophētāvimus, ēiēcimus, fēcimus — all first person plural perfect active indicative) and genuine obedience (facit voluntātem Patris) lies at the heart of this passage’s moral teaching.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The following narrative demonstrates the use of discédere in the context of a saint’s holy death, drawing on authentic hagiographic vocabulary and style.
Genre Section A: Interlinear Construed Text
206.16 Blessed Martin, bishop of Tours, sensed that the hour of his death was approaching.
206.17 He said to his brothers, "The time has now come for me to depart from this world."
206.18 The monks, weeping, were asking him, "Father, do not wish to depart from us."
206.19 Saint Martin answered, "Lord, if I am still necessary to your people, I do not refuse labor.
206.20 But if you wish that I may depart, let your will be done."
206.21 Demons came so that they might frighten his soul, but they departed confused.
206.22 Martin commanded them, "Depart from me; you shall find nothing in me."
206.23 Holy angels came so that they might lead his soul to heaven.
206.24 When the soul had departed from the body, a great light appeared.
206.25 The brothers heard the voices of angels singing psalms in heaven.
206.26 The holy body, by the departure of the soul, was not disfigured but appeared as if sleeping.
206.27 Many bishops gathered for his funeral and were not wishing to depart before the burial.
206.28 The people of Tours were crying out, "Do not wish to depart from us, holy father."
206.29 Blessed Martin departed to the Lord on the eleventh day before the Kalends of December (November 21).
206.30 Thus he who never departed from the faith has now departed to eternal reward.
This passage presents the death of Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most venerated saints in medieval Christianity. Here's a structural overview:
Introduction (206.16-206.17) - Martin recognizes his approaching death - Announces his readiness to depart
Emotional Response (206.18-206.20) - Monks plead with him to stay - Martin shows spiritual resignation to God's will
Spiritual Conflict (206.21-206.22) - Demons attempt to terrorize his soul - Martin commands them away with spiritual authority
Heavenly Reception (206.23-206.25) - Holy angels come to conduct his soul to heaven - Divine light and angelic music accompany his death
Description of the Body (206.26) - The corpse remains undisfigured, appearing peaceful
Community Mourning (206.27-206.28) - Bishops and people gather, reluctant to leave - Public expressions of grief and devotion
Historical Close (206.29) - Precise date of death: November 8
- Religious vocabulary: anima (soul), daemon, angelus, sanctus - Emotional verbs: rogābant, flentēs, clāmābat - Repeated discédere emphasizes the theme of departure/transition - Direct speech gives immediacy to the narrative - Ablative absolute (discessū animae) in 206.26
This is characteristic hagiographic literature emphasizing virtue, spiritual power, and divine favor.
206.16 Blessed Martin, bishop of Tours, felt the hour of his death approaching.
206.17 He said to his brothers: "It is now time for me to depart from this world."
206.18 The monks, weeping, were asking him: "Father, do not depart from us."
206.19 Saint Martin answered: "Lord, if I am still necessary to your people, I do not refuse labor.
206.20 But if you wish that I depart, let your will be done."
206.21 Demons came in order to terrify his soul, but they departed confused.
206.22 Martin commanded them: "Depart from me; you will find nothing in me."
206.23 Holy angels came in order to lead his soul to heaven.
206.24 When his soul had departed from his body, great light appeared.
206.25 The brothers heard the voices of angels singing in heaven.
206.26 The holy body was not deformed by the departure of the soul, but [appeared] as if sleeping.
206.27 Many bishops gathered for his funeral and did not wish to depart before the burial.
206.28 The people of Tours cried out: "Do not depart from us, holy father!"
---
Note on Vocabulary: - discessit / discédere = departed, to depart - ēpiscopus = bishop - animam = soul - angelī = angels - corpus = body - sepultūram = burial
The modern Ecclesiastical (Italianate) pronunciation differs from Classical Latin in several respects relevant to this lesson:
- c before e or i is pronounced /tʃ/ (like English "ch"): - discédere = /disˈtʃe.de.re/ - Kalendās = /kaˈlen.das/ (c before a remains hard) - discessū = /disˈtʃes.su/
- g before e or i is pronounced /dʒ/ (like English "j"): - Not heavily illustrated in this passage, but important for ecclesiastical texts generally
- ti before a vowel (except when preceded by s, x, or t) is pronounced /tsi/: - fidē remains unaffected, but gratia → /graˈtsi.a/
- Classical long marks (macrons) indicate stress placement in ecclesiastical pronunciation: - ūndecimō /undeˈtʃi.mo/ — stress on penultimate syllable - aeternum /aeˈter.num/ — stress on penultimate
- Final syllables ending in -m carry less stress: - Dominum /ˈdo.mi.num/ (stress on first syllable)
The passage shows typical ecclesiastical orthographic features: - Use of ae as a single vowel unit (not diphthongal as in Classical): praemium, aeternum - Frequent h elision in speech (though orthographically retained): hōram pronounced /ˈo.ram/
---
Would you like detailed pronunciation of specific phrases, or shall we move to comparative analysis with Classical pronunciation? -
sc before e or i is pronounced /ʃ/ (like English “sh”): discessit = /diˈʃes.sit/ -
ae and oe are pronounced as /e/: caelum = /ˈtʃe.lum/ -
gn is pronounced /ɲ/ (like Spanish “ñ”): rēgnum = /ˈreɲ.num/
Macrons and Vowel Length:
In this lesson, macrons indicate long vowels: -
discédere (short e in the stem, but stress on the second syllable) -
discessī (perfect tense, long ī) -
discédite (imperative plural)
In printed liturgical texts, macrons are often omitted, so learners must memorize vowel quantities. The perfect forms (discessī, discessistī, etc.) have long -ī endings.
Variant Spellings:
Medieval manuscripts sometimes show variant spellings: -
discedere / discaedere (rare hypercorrection) -
discessit / discessit (consistent in most sources)
The Clementine Vulgate standardized the spelling discedite without macrons, while modern critical editions may include them.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This is Lesson 206 of the Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course, designed for autodidact students learning to read the Latin texts of the Catholic Church. Each lesson focuses on a single high-frequency word drawn from the Dickinson Core Vocabulary, with examples taken from authentic ecclesiastical sources including the Vulgate, the Roman Liturgy, and patristic writings.
The Latinum Institute has been creating online language learning materials since 2006. Our methodology combines the traditional Duplex Method of interlinear construed text with systematic frequency-based vocabulary acquisition. By mastering the thousand most common Latin words, students gain access to approximately 80% of the vocabulary in everyday ecclesiastical texts.
For more lessons and the complete course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
For reviews of our Latin courses, see: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Ōrā et labōrā — Pray and work.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Lesson 206 of the Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course © Latinum Institute
---