desertion
UK: dɪˈzɜːʃən | US: dɪˈzɜːrʃən
n. the act of abandoning or leaving a duty, relationship, or obligation without permission or justification
n. (military) the offense of leaving military service without authorization
desertion = desert<abandon> + ion<noun suffix>
- desert (from Old French deserter, Latin desertare, frequentative of deserere "to abandon," from de- "completely" + serere "to join, bind")
- ion (noun-forming suffix indicating an action or state, from Latin -io)
Etymology Origin:
The word desertion traces back to Latin deserere, meaning "to abandon utterly." The prefix de- intensifies the action, while serere (to bind or join) implies severing a connection. Over time, deserere evolved into Old French deserter, later entering English as desert. The suffix -ion formalizes the act of abandoning, giving us desertion—a term often tied to military or moral contexts.
The soldier was court-martialed for desertion during wartime.
Her sudden desertion of the project left the team in chaos.
Desertion rates in the army peaked during the harsh winter.
The novel explores themes of love and desertion in a war-torn society.
Legal consequences for parental desertion vary by jurisdiction.