Abrogate — A Vocabulary Story
Patricia and the Great Rule Rebellion
Patricia's big brother Michael ran the Garden Den Club, and he loved rules more than anyone alive. The den had forty-seven of them, all written on a clipboard he carried everywhere.
Rule 12: No humming on Tuesdays. Rule 23: Socks must match. Rule 31: Only Michael may sit on the comfy cushion.
"These rules are ridiculous," Patricia announced one Saturday, waving a sandwich for emphasis. "I propose we abrogate Rule 31 immediately."
Abrogate means to officially cancel or repeal a law, agreement, or right. It also means to do away with or put an end to something.
Michael gasped so hard he nearly swallowed a fly. "You can't just abrogate my rules! They're official!"
"Watch me," said Patricia. She called a den meeting. Their cousin Sarah voted yes. Their neighbour Kofi voted yes. Even Michael's best friend Tom voted yes, mostly because his socks never matched and he was tired of hiding his feet.
"Rule 31 is hereby abrogated!" Patricia declared, plonking herself on the comfy cushion like a queen.
Michael sulked for exactly eleven minutes. Then Patricia offered him half her sandwich and a spot beside her on the cushion, which was surprisingly roomy.
"Fine," he grumbled, chewing thoughtfully. "But if we abrogate Rule 12, may I at least keep Rule 40?"
Patricia checked the clipboard. Rule 40: Biscuits must be shared equally.
"Rule 40 stays forever," she agreed solemnly, and they shook on it with jammy hands.
By teatime, the den had just six rules left, one comfy cushion for everybody, and the loudest Tuesday humming the garden had ever heard.
Word Definition
abrogate
meaning
to officially cancel or repeal a law, agreement, or right; to do away with or put an end to something
synonyms
repeal · revoke · annul · abolish · cancel
antonyms
establish · enact · uphold
example sentence
The new government voted to abrogate the unfair old law.