departing

Everyday

1. Departing means leaving, going away from a place, especially for trains, buses and planes. tree →
2. (adjective) Departing describes someone who is leaving a job or place: «the departing head teacher». tree →

In the lessons

In timetables and stations «departing» or «departures» tells when transport leaves; maths problems use departure times to find journey length. «Departed» can be a euphemism for dead. Phrases: «departing from», «departing at», «the departing passengers».

Examples

• The train is departing from platform 4. tree →
• Passengers departing for London, please board now. tree →
• The bus departs at 9:15 and arrives at 10:05; how long is the trip? tree →
• We said goodbye to the departing teacher. tree →
• Flights departing today may be late. tree →
• The ship was departing as we arrived. tree →

Note

Formal; everyday words are leave, go. Noun: departure. «The departed» (euphemism) means people who have died. Maths: journey time = arrival time − departure time.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is used of a soul leaving the body at death. In Hosea it means turning away from God.

Interpretation. Tradition reads Rachel's last moment as the soul leaving the body. She named her son Ben-oni, "son of my sorrow," and Jacob renamed him Benjamin. Hosea's "departing from the LORD" is read as Israel's unfaithfulness, like a wife leaving her husband.

Examples

• And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing — for she died — that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (Torah GEN.35.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• When the LORD spoke at first with Hosea, the LORD said unto Hosea: 'Go, take unto thee a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry; for the land doth commit great harlotry, departing from the LORD.' (Prophets HOS.1.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Formal; everyday words are leave, go. Noun: departure. «The departed» (euphemism) means people who have died. Maths: journey time = arrival time − departure time.