Brewer's: Abrogate

Ab′rogate

When the Roman senate wanted a law to be passed, they asked the people to give their votes in its favour. The Latin for this is rogare legem (to solicit or propose a law). If they wanted a law repealed, they asked the people to vote against it; this was abrogare legem (to solicit against the law).

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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