The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
cede \cede\ (s[=e]d), v. t. [imp. & p. p. ceded; p. pr. & vb. n. ceding.] [L. cedere to withdraw, yield; akin to cadere to fall, and to E. chance; cf. F. c['e]der.] To yield or surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cede a fortress, a province, or country, to another nation, by treaty. [1913 Webster] The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights. --Jay. [1913 Webster]