I. A going asunder, separation, opening (very rare): “caeli,” i. e. lightning, Cic. Div. 2, 28, 60: “est interitus quasi discessus et secretio ac diremptus earum partium, quae ante interitum junctione aliqua tenebantur,” id. Tusc. 1, 29, 71.—
II. A going away, departure, removal.
A. In gen. (class.): “ut me levarat tuus adventus, sic discessus afflixit,” Cic. Att. 12, 50: subitus (with praeceps profectio), Att. ap. Cic. Att. 9, 10, 6: “ab urbe,” Cic. ib. 8, 3, 3: “praeclarus e vita,” id. Div. 1, 23, 47; cf. id. de Sen. 23: “latronis,” id. Phil. 5, 11, 30; cf. “ceterorum,” id. Cat. 1, 3, 7: “legatorum,” Caes. B. G. 7, 5 fin.: “discessu mugire boves,” Verg. A. 8, 215 al.—In plur.: “solis accessus discessusque,” Cic. N. D. 2, 7, 19.—
B. In partic.
1. In milit. lang., a marching away, marching off, decamping, Caes. B. G. 2, 14, 1; 4, 4, 6; 7, 20, 1 et saep.; Tac. A. 2, 44; Front. Strat. 1, 1, 9; 1, 5, 25 al.—
2. In Cic. applied to his banishment from Rome: “cum, discessu meo, religionum jura polluta sunt,” Cic. Leg. 2, 17, 42 (cf. absum); so id. de domo 32, 85.