Abandonment
/əˈbændənmənt/noun
The act of giving up, leaving behind, or relinquishing possession of something.
Did you know?The word 'abandon' traces back to a time when it signified the release of one's spirit, invoking the idea of letting go completely, even of life itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰendʰ-
“to bind or to put in place”
Old French
Old French
abandoner
“to give up or leave behind, often with a sense of surrender”
14th Century
Middle English
abandonen
“to forsake or relinquish, often associated with emotional loss”
Modern English
English
abandonment
“the formal act of leaving something behind, signifying complete separation or relinquishment.”