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desert1 verb (deserted, deserting) 1 to leave or abandon (a place or person), intending not to return. 2 intrans to leave (especially a branch of the armed forces) without permission. 3 to take away support from (a person, cause, etc). deserted adj said of a building, etc: empty or abandoned. deserter noun someone who deserts from military service. desertion noun.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c: from French déserter.
desert There is often a spelling confusion between desert and dessert. |
desert2 noun an arid area of land where rainfall is less than potential evaporation, vegetation is scarce or non-existent, and which is characterized by extremely high or low temperatures. Also as adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: French, from Latin deserere to abandon.
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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