discessĭo, ōnis, f. [discedo].
I (Very rarely), a separation of married persons, Ter. And. 568; of the people into parties (with seditio), Gell. 2, 12: stellarum et discessiones et coetus, separations and conjunctions , id. 14, 1, 8; cf.: plebei a patribus, et aliae dissensiones, Sall. H. Fragm. 1, 9 Dietsch.—
II A going away, departure, removal .
A In gen. (very rarely; cf. discessus): Nonanus desolatus aliorum discessione, Tac. A. 1, 30 fin. : necessaria, Macr. S. 1, 5, 3.—Far more freq.,
B In partic.
1 Polit. t. t., a going over to any one in voting: senatusconsultum de supplicatione per discessionem fecit, Cic. Phil. 3, 9 fin. ; Tac. A. 6, 12; Suet. Tib. 31; cf. Varr. ap. Gell. 14, 7, 12.—Esp.: discessionem facere, to make a division , i. e. to get the vote of the house by dividing it , Cic. Phil. 14, 7 fin. ; Hirt. B. G. 8, 52 fin. ; 8, 53; Cic. Sest. 34, 74; Tac. A. 3, 69 fin. al.—
2 In the church, a separation, schism (eccl. Lat.), Vulg. Act. 21, 21; id. 2 Thes. 2, 3.