abandon

SpeakerListen:


Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
abandon/əˈbandən/
verb
  • 1 give up (an action or practice) completely.
  • 2 desert or leave permanently.
  • 3 (abandon oneself to) indulge in (a desire or impulse) without restraint.

    ■ (as adj. abandoned) unrestrained; uninhibited: a wild, abandoned dance.

noun lack of inhibition or restraint.
– phrases
abandon ship leave a ship because it is sinking.
– derivatives
abandonment noun.
– origin ME: from OFr. abandoner, from a- (from L. ad ‘to, at’) + bandon ‘control’ (rel. to ban1).
'abandon' also found in these Oxford entries:

Download free Android and iPhone apps

Android AppiPhone App
Report an inappropriate ad.