desert

desert

desert¹ [di zʉrt′]

vt.

[Fr déserter < LL desertare < desertus, pp. of L deserere, to desert, lit., to disjoin < de-, from + serere, to join < IE base * ser-, to join, place in a row > Gr eirein, to fasten in rows, L series]

1. to forsake (someone or something that one ought not to leave); abandon

2. to leave (one's post, military service, etc.) without permission

3. to fail (someone) when most needed

vi.

to leave one's post, military duty, etc. without permission and with no intent to return, or, in war, in order to avoid hazardous duty

SYN.- ABANDON

deserter

n.

desert² [dez′ərt]

n.

[ME < OFr < LL(Ec) desertum, a desert, for L deserta < desertus: see DESERT¹]

1. an uncultivated region without inhabitants; wilderness

2. a dry, barren, sandy region, often extremely hot

adj.

1. of a desert or deserts

2. wild and uninhabited [a desert island]

SYN.- WASTE

desert³ [di zʉrt′]

n.

[ME & OFr deserte < deservir: see DESERVE]

1. the fact of deserving reward or punishment

2. [often pl.] deserved reward or punishment [to get one's just deserts]

3. the quality of deserving reward; merit