abandon

 
Pronunciation: /əˈband(ə)n/

verb

[with object]
  • 1cease to support or look after (someone); desert: her natural mother had abandoned her at an early age
  • leave (a place or vehicle) empty or uninhabited, without intending to return: derelict houses were abandoned
  • (abandon someone/thing to) condemn someone or something to (a specified fate) by ceasing to take an interest in them: an attempt to persuade businesses not to abandon the area to inner-city deprivation
  • 2give up completely (a practice or a course of action): he had clearly abandoned all pretence of trying to succeed
  • discontinue (a scheduled event) before completion: fans invaded the pitch and the match was abandoned
  • 3 (abandon oneself to) allow oneself to indulge in (a desire or impulse): she abandoned herself to his kiss

noun

[mass noun]
  • complete lack of inhibition or restraint: she sings and sways with total abandon

Phrases

abandon ship

leave a ship because it is sinking: a Mayday message was received before all on board abandoned ship
hurriedly leave an organization or enterprise: he would rather abandon ship now than resign in shame in two years

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French abandoner, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + bandon 'control' (related to ban1). The original sense was 'bring under control', later 'give in to the control of, surrender to' (abandon (sense 3 of the verb))