Main Entry: ⁴de·sert

Pronunciation: \di-ˈzərt\

Function: verb

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

Date: 1603

transitive verb 1 : 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