Word Study
abandon
CIDE DICTIONARY
abandon, v. t. [OF. abandoner, F. abandonner; a (L. ad) + bandon permission, authority, LL. bandum, bannum, public proclamation, interdiction, bannire to proclaim, summon: of Germanic origin; cf. Goth. bandwjan to show by signs, to designate OHG. ban proclamation. The word meant to proclaim, put under a ban, put under control; hence, as in OE., to compel, subject, or to leave in the control of another, and hence, to give up. See Ban.].
- To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject. [1913 Webster]"That he might . . . abandon them from him." [1913 Webster]"Being all this time abandoned from your bed." [1913 Webster]
- To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely ; to renounce utterly; to relinquish all connection with or concern on; to desert, as a person to whom one owes allegiance or fidelity; to quit; to surrender. [1913 Webster]"Hope was overthrown, yet could not be abandoned." [1913 Webster]
- Reflexively: To give (one's self) up without attempt at self-control; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly; -- often in a bad sense. [1913 Webster]"He abandoned himself . . . to his favorite vice." [1913 Webster]
- To relinquish all claim to; -- used when an insured person gives up to underwriters all claim to the property covered by a policy, which may remain after loss or damage by a peril insured against. [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To give up; yield; forego; cede; surrender; resign; abdicate; quit; relinquish; renounce; desert; forsake; leave; retire; withdraw from.
Abandonment; relinquishment. [1913 Webster]
abandon, n. [F. See Abandon.].
A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
abandon, v. & n.
--v.tr.
1 give up completely or before completion (abandoned hope; abandoned the game).
2 a forsake or desert (a person or a post of responsibility). b leave or desert (a motor vehicle or ship).
3 a give up to another's control or mercy. b refl. yield oneself completely to a passion or impulse.
--n. lack of inhibition or restraint; reckless freedom of manner.
--v.tr.
1 give up completely or before completion (abandoned hope; abandoned the game).
2 a forsake or desert (a person or a post of responsibility). b leave or desert (a motor vehicle or ship).
3 a give up to another's control or mercy. b refl. yield oneself completely to a passion or impulse.
--n. lack of inhibition or restraint; reckless freedom of manner.
Derivative
abandoner n. abandonment n.
Etymology
ME f. OF abandoner f. {agrave} bandon under control ult. f. LL bannus, -um BAN
THESAURUS
abandon
abandonment, abjection, abjure, abort, abscond, acknowledge defeat, ardency, ardor, back out, beat a retreat, beg a truce, beg off, belay, boundlessness, bow out, break the habit, brush aside, brush off, cancel, capitulate, careless abandon, carelessness, cast, cast aside, cast away, cast off, casualness, cease, cede, chuck, come to terms, commitment, committedness, corruptedness, corruption, corruptness, craze, cry off, cry pax, cry quits, cursoriness, cut, cut it out, debasement, decadence, decadency, dedication, deep-six, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, delirium, demoralization, depart from, depravation, depravedness, depravity, desert, desist, devotedness, devotion, devoutness, disappear, discard, discontinue, disgorge, dismiss, dispense with, dispose of, disregardfulness, dissoluteness, disuse, ditch, do without, drop, drop it, drop out, drop the subject, dump, earnestness, ease, easiness, ecstasy, egregiousness, eighty-six, eliminate, end, enormousness, evacuate, exaggeration, excess, excessiveness, exorbitance, exorbitancy, extravagance, extravagancy, extreme, extremes, extremism, extremity, exuberance, fabulousness, faith, faithfulness, fervency, fervidness, fervor, fidelity, fire, fire and fury, forget, forget about it, forget it, forgetfulness, forgo, forsake, forswear, freedom, frenzy, fun, furor, furore, fury, games, get along without, get quit of, get rid of, get shut of, giantism, gigantism, give away, give over, give up, gluttony, go back on, goldbrick, goof off, halt, hand over, hastiness, have done with, heartiness, heat, heatedness, heedlessness, hold, hyperbole, hypertrophy, hysteria, immoderacy, immoderateness, immoderation, impassionedness, implore mercy, impulsiveness, inconsiderateness, inconsideration, incontinence, indifference, indiscipline, inordinacy, inordinance, inordinateness, insouciance, intemperance, intemperateness, intensity, intentness, intoxication, irrepressibility, jettison, jilt, jump, junk, kick, kiss good-bye, knock it off, lack of foresight, laxity, laxness, lay aside, lay off, laziness, leave, leave behind, leave flat, leave loose ends, leave off, leave undone, let alone, let be, let dangle, let go, let it go, let slip, liberty, license, licentiousness, looseness, loyalty, madness, make a sacrifice, malinger, maroon, miss, monstrousness, moral pollution, moral turpitude, naturalness, nimiety, noncoercion, nonintimidation, oblivion, offhandedness, omit, orgasm, orgy, outrageousness, overdevelopment, overgreatness, overgrowth, overindulgence, overlargeness, overmuch, overmuchness, part with, pass over, pass up, passion, passionateness, perfunctoriness, permissiveness, play, pray for quarter, pretermit, procrastinate, profligacy, pull out, push aside, put aside, quit, quit cold, quitclaim, radicalism, rage, rapture, ravishment, recant, recklessness, refrain, regardlessness, reject, relinquish, remove, render up, renege, renounce, reprobacy, repudiate, resign, resolution, retire, retract, retreat, riotousness, rottenness, run out on, sacrifice, say goodbye to, say uncle, scrap, scrub, seriousness, set aside, shake, shirk, shrug off, sincerity, skip, slack, slough, sneeze at, spare, spirit, spontaneity, sport, sprezzatura, stand down, stay, stop, surrender, swear off, tactlessness, take leave of, take the pledge, tearing passion, terminate, think nothing of, thoughtlessness, throw away, throw off, throw out, throw over, throw overboard, throw up, thrust aside, too much, too-muchness, toss overboard, towering rage, transport, trifle, turn away from, turn up, turpitude, unconscionableness, unconstrained, unconstraint, uncontrol, undueness, unheedfulness, uninhibitedness, unmindfulness, unpreparedness, unreadiness, unreasonableness, unreserve, unrestrainedness, unrestraint, unruliness, unsolicitousness, unsolicitude, unstrictness, unthinkingness, vacate, vanish, vehemence, waive, wantonness, warmth, wildness, withdraw, yield, yield the palm, zealROGET THESAURUS
abandon
Avoidance
VB abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt, not do, maintain the even tenor of one's way, eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with, keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off, take no part in, have no hand in, avoid, shun, steer clear of, keep clear of, fight shy of, keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance, keep out of the way, get out of the way, evade, elude, turn away from, set one's face against, deny oneself, shrink back, hang back, hold back, draw back, recoil, retire, flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to, beat a retreat, turn tail, turn one's back, take to one's heels, runaway, run for one's life, cut and run, be off like a shot, fly, flee, fly away, flee away, run away from, take flight, take to flight, desert, elope, make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off, break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from, slip cable, part company, turn one's heel, sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take French leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulat, cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce, escape, go away, abandon, reject, lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance, throw off the scent, play at hide and seek, Adj, unsought, unattempted, avoiding, neutral, shy of, elusive, evasive, fugitive, runaway, shy, wild.Relinquishment
VB relinquish, give up, abandon, desert, forsake, leave in the lurch, go back on, depart from, secede from, withdraw from, back out of, leave, quit, take leave of, bid a long farewell, vacate, renounce, forego, have done with, drop, disuse, discard, wash one's hands of, drop all idea of, break off, leave off, desist, stop, hold one's hand, stay one's hand, quit one's hold, give over, shut up shop, throw up the game, throw up the cards, give up the point, give up the argument, pass to the order of the day, move to the previous question, relinquish, give up, surrender, yield, cede, let go, let slip, spare, drop, resign, forego, renounce, abandon, expropriate, give away, dispose of, part with, lay aside, lay apart, lay down, lay on the shelf, set aside, put aside, put away, make away with, cast behind, maroon, give notice to quit, give warning, supersede, be rid of, get rid of, be quit of, get quit of, eject, rid oneself of, disburden oneself of, divest oneself of, dispossess oneself of, wash one's hands of, discard, cast off, dismiss, cast away, throw away, pitch away, fling away, cast aside, cast overboard, cast to the dogs, throw aside, throw overboard, throw to the dogs, pitch aside, pitch overboard, pitch to the dogs, fling aside, fling overboard, fling to the dogs, cast to the winds, throw to the winds, sweep to the winds, put away, turn away, sweep away, jettison, reject, quit one's hold, quitclaim, relinquish, give up, abandon, desert, forsake, leave in the lurch, go back on, depart from, secede from, withdraw from, back out of, leave, quit, take leave of, bid a long farewell, vacate, renounce, forego, have done with, drop, disuse, discard, wash one's hands of, drop all idea of, break off, leave off, desist, stop, hold one's hand, stay one's hand, quit one's hold, give over, shut up shop, throw up the game, throw up the cards, give up the point, give up the argument, pass to the order of the day, move to the previous question, relinquish, give up, surrender, yield, cede, let go, let slip, spare, drop, resign, forego, renounce, abandon, expropriate, give away, dispose of, part with, lay aside, lay apart, lay down, lay on the shelf, set aside, put aside, put away, make away with, cast behind, maroon, give notice to quit, give warning, supersede, be rid of, get rid of, be quit of, get quit of, eject, rid oneself of, disburden oneself of, divest oneself of, dispossess oneself of, wash one's hands of, discard, cast off, dismiss, cast away, throw away, pitch away, fling away, cast aside, cast overboard, cast to the dogs, throw aside, throw overboard, throw to the dogs, pitch aside, pitch overboard, pitch to the dogs, fling aside, fling overboard, fling to the dogs, cast to the winds, throw to the winds, sweep to the winds, put away, turn away, sweep away, jettison, reject, quit one's hold, quitclaim.Activity
N activity, briskness, liveliness, animation, life, vivacity, spirit, dash, energy, snap, vim, nimbleness, agility, smartness, quickness, velocity, alacrity, promptitude, despatch, dispatch, expedition, haste, punctuality, eagerness, zeal, ardor, perfervidum aingenium, empressement, earnestness, intentness, abandon, vigor, devotion, exertion, industry, assiduity, assiduousness, sedulity, laboriousness, drudgery, painstaking, diligence, perseverance, indefatigation, habits of business, vigilance, wakefulness, sleeplessness, restlessness, insomnia, pervigilium, insomnium, racketing, movement, bustle, stir, fuss, ado, bother, pottering, fidget, fidgetiness, flurry, officiousness, dabbling, meddling, interference, interposition, intermeddling, tampering with, intrigue, press of business, no sinecure, plenty to do, many irons in the fire, great doings, busy hum of men, battle of life, thick of the action, housewife, busy bee, new brooms, sharp fellow, sharp blade, devotee, enthusiast, zealot, meddler, intermeddler, intriguer, busybody, pickthank, hummer, hustler, live man, rustler, active, brisk, brisk as a lark, brisk as a bee, lively, animated, vivacious, alive, alive and kicking, frisky, spirited, stirring, nimble, nimble as a squirrel, agile, light-footed, nimble-footed, featly, tripping, quick, prompt, yare, instant, ready, alert, spry, sharp, smart, fast, quick as a lamplighter, expeditious, awake, broad awake, go-ahead, live wide-awake, forward, eager, strenuous, zealous, enterprising, in earnest, resolute, industrious, assiduous, diligent, sedulous, notable, painstaking, intent, indefatigable, unwearied, unsleeping, never tired, plodding, hard-working, businesslike, workaday, bustling, restless, restless as a hyena, fussy, fidgety, pottering, busy, busy as hen with one chicken, working, at work, on duty, in harness, up in arms, on one's legs, at call, up and doing, up and stirring, busy, occupied, hard at work, hard at it, up to one's ears in, full of business, busy as a bee, busy as a one-armed paperhanger, meddling, meddlesome, pushing, officious, overofficious, intrigant, astir, stirring, agoing, afoot, on foot, in full swing, eventful, on the alert, actively, with life and spirit, with might and main &c, with haste, with wings, full tilt, in mediis rebus, Int, be alive, look alive, look sharp!, move on, push on!, keep moving!, go ahead!, stir your stumps!, age quod agis!, jaldi!, karo!, step lively!, carpe diem, seize the day, nulla dies sine linea, nec mora nec requies, the plot thickens, No sooner said than done, veni vidi vici, catch a weasel asleep, abends wird der Faule fleissig, dictum ac factum, schwere Arbeit in der Jugend ist sanfte Ruhe im Al, hard work in youth means soft rest in age, the busy hum of men.Artlessness
N artlessness, nature, simplicity, innocence, bonhomie, naivete, abandon, candor, sincerity, singleness of purpose, singleness of heart, honesty, plain speaking, epanchement, rough diamond, matter of fact man, le palais de verite, enfant terrible, artless, natural, pure, native, confiding, simple, lain, inartificial, untutored, unsophisticated, ingenu, unaffected, naive, sincere, frank, open, open as day, candid, ingenuous, guileless, unsuspicious, honest, innocent, Arcadian, undesigning, straightforward, unreserved, aboveboard, simple-minded, single-minded, frank-hearted, open-hearted, single-hearted, simple-hearted, free-spoken, plain-spoken, outspoken, blunt, downright, direct, matter of fact, unpoetical, unflattering, in plain words, in plain English, without mincing the matter, not to mince the matter, Davus sum non Oedipus, liberavi animam meam, as frank as rain on cherry blossoms.Hopelessness
VB despair, lose all hope, give up all hope, abandon all hope, relinquish all hope, lose the hope of, give up the hope of, abandon the hope of, relinquish the hope of, give up, give over, yield to despair, falter, despond, jeter le manche apres la cognee, inspire despair, drive to despair, disconcert, dash one's hopes, crush one's hopes, destroy one's hopes, hope against hope, abandon, resign, surrender, submit.Exclusion
VB be excluded from, exclude, bar, leave out, shut out, bar out, reject, repudiate, blackball, lay apart, put apart, set apart, lay aside, put aside, relegate, segregate, throw overboard, strike off, strike out, neglect, banish, separate, pass over, omit, garble, eliminate, weed, winnow, be secluded, live secluded, keep aloof, stand, hold oneself aloof, keep in the background, stand in the background, keep snug, shut oneself up, deny oneself, seclude oneself creep into a corner, rusticate, aller planter ses choux, retire, retire from the world, take the veil, abandon, sport one's oak, cut, cut dead, refuse to associate with, refuse to acknowledge, look cool upon, turn one's back upon, shut the door upon, repel, blackball, excommunicate, exclude, exile, expatriate, banish, outlaw, maroon, ostracize, proscribe, cut off from, send to Coventry, keep at arm's length, draw a cordon round, depopulate, dispeople, unpeople.Departure
VB depart, go away, take one's departure, set out, set off, march off, put off, start off, be off, move off, get off, whip off, pack off, go off, take oneself off, start, issue, march out, debouch, go forth, sally forth, sally, set forward, be gone, hail from, leave a place, quit, vacate, evacuate, abandon, go off the stage, make one's exit, retire, withdraw, remove, vamoose, vamose, go one's way, go along, go from home, take flight, take wing, spring, fly, flit, wing one's flight, fly away, whip away, embark, go on board, go aboard, set sail' put to sea, go to sea, sail, take ship, hoist blue Peter, get under way, weigh anchor, strike tents, decamp, walk one's chalks, cut one's stick, take leave, say good bye, bid goodbye, disappear, abscond, entrain, inspan.For further exploring for "abandon" in Webster Dictionary Online