Main Entry:

⁴de·sert

Pronunciation:

\di-ˈzərt\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

French déserter, from Late Latin desertare, frequentative of Latin deserere

Date:

1603

transitive verb1: to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return <desert a town>2 a: to leave in the lurch <desert a friend in trouble> b: to abandon (military service) without leaveintransitive verb: to quit one's post, allegiance, or service without leave or justification ; especially : to abandon military duty without leave and without intent to return

synonyms see abandon

— de·sert·er noun