Quick Definition
I return, retire, depart, withdraw
Strong's Definition
to retire
Derivation: from G303 (ἀνά) and G5562 (χωρέω);
KJV Usage: depart, give place, go (turn) aside, withdraw self
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀναχωρέω, ἀναχόρω; 1 aorist ἀνεχώρησα; (frequent in Greek writings);
1. to go back, return: Mat_2:12 f (others refer this to next entry).
2. to withdraw;
a. universally, so as to leave room: Mat_9:24.
b. of those who through fear seek some other place, or shun sight: Mat_2:14; Mat_2:22; Mat_4:12; Mat_12:15; Mat_14:13; Mat_15:21; Mat_27:5; Mar_3:7; Joh_6:15 (Tdf. φεύγει); Act_23:19 (κατ' ἰδίαν); Act_26:31.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀναχωρέω anachō reō 14x
to go backward; to depart, go away, Mat_2:12 ; to withdraw, retire, Mat_9:24 ; Act_23:19 ; Act_26:31 depart; return.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀνα -χωρέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX for H1272 , H5123 , etc.;]
1. to go back .
2. to withdraw: Mat_9:24 ; freq . in sense of avoiding danger ( MM , VGT , s.v. ), Mat_2:12 (but v. Thayer ), Mat_2:13-14 ; Mat_2:22 ; Mat_4:12 ; Mat_12:15 ; Mat_14:13 ; Mat_15:21 ; Mat_27:5 , Mar_3:7 , Joh_6:15 , Act_23:19 ; Act_26:31 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀναχωρέω [page 40]
ἀναχωρέω is applied to the falling of the Nile in P Magd 11 .15 (B.C. 221) τοῦ ὕδατος ἀναχωροῦντος , as is the substantive in P Petr II. 13 (19) .9 ( c. B.C. 252) (= Witkowski 2 , p. 19) τὴ ]ν ἀνα [χώ ]ρησιν τοῦ ποταμοῦ . In the census return BGU II. 447 .6 (A.D. 173 4) the name of a man is included who was at the time ἐν ἀναχωρήσι , away from home ( bleibende Entfernung, Wessely Karanis , p. 34). See Wilcken Ostr , i. p. 448, and for the same meaning of absence cf. P Tebt II. 353 .6 (A.D. 192) ἀπ᾽ ἀναχωρήσεως κατισεληλυθώς . In P Tebt I. 41 .14 ( c. B.C. 119) certain βασιλικοὶ γεωργοί petition against one Marres, stating that on account of his extortion they had gone on strike and taken refuge in the neighbouring Villages ἀνακεχωρήκαμ̣ε̣ν̣ εἰς τὰς περιοίκας κώμας : cf. P Oxy II. 252 .9 (A.D. 19 20) ἀνεχώρησεν [εἰς τὴν ] ξένην , Syll 802 .117 (iii/B.C.) τοῦτο ποιήσας εἰς τὸ ἄβατον ἀνεχώρησε , and the late Silco rescript OGIS 201 .9 (vi/A.D.) ἀναχωρήθην εἰς τὰ ἄνω μέρη μου . P Lille I. 3 .78 (B.C. 241) ἀνακεχώρηκε [ν . . . ] ἔτη is rendered by Wilcken er is geflohen ( Archiv v. p. 222) : he remarks that the Christian ἀναχωρηταί were those who fled from the world retire is too weak for ἀναχωρέω . The connotation of taking refuge from some peril will suit most of the NT passages remarkably well.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἀναχωρέω "to go back", Hom. : esp. "to retire or withdraw" from battle, Hom. , Hdt. , attic "to retire from" a place, c. gen., Od. "to come back or revert to the rightful owner", ἐς τὸν παῖδα Hdt. . "to withdraw" from the world, Ar. , Plat.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀνα-χωρέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for בָּרַח, נוּם, etc. ;]
__1. to go back.
__2. to withdraw: Mat.9:24; frequently in sense of avoiding danger (MM, VGT, see word), Mat.2:12 (but see Thayer), Mat.2:13-14, 22 4:12 12:15 14:13 15:21 27:5, Mrk.3:7, Jhn.6:15, Act.23:19 26:31.†
(AS)