Abandon
/əˈbændən/noun
To cease to support or look after someone or something.
Did you know?The word 'abandon' derives from a term that once implied giving oneself to someone or something entirely, often invoking deep emotional ties and loss.
Etymological Timeline
Old French
Old French
abandonner
“To give up possession or control; to give oneself to.”
Latin
Latin
abandonare
“To give up, relinquish, or place in another's care.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰendh-
“To bind or join, suggesting a connection or attachment.”
Middle English
Middle English
abandonen
“To renounce or give up, often with a sense of finality.”
Modern English
English
abandon
“To leave behind or give up completely, often with emotional weight.”