abandonment

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of giving something up
  2. noun withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility
  3. noun the voluntary surrender of property (or a right to property) without attempting to reclaim it or give it away

Etymology

Borrowed from French abandonnement, from abandonner (“to abandon, relinquish”). abandonner was originally equivalent to mettre à bandon (“to leave to the jurisdiction, i.e. of another”), bandon being from Medieval Latin bandum, bannum (“order, decree, ban”). Equivalent to abandon + -ment. (See also English banns.)

In classic literature

Synonyms

forsaking, desertion

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