Origin: 1325–75; Middle English abando(
u)
nen <
Middle French abandoner for
Old French (
mettre)
a bandon (put) under (someone's) jurisdiction, equivalent to
a at, to (<
Latin ad; see ad-) +
bandon <
Germanic *band; see bond1 Related formsa·ban·don·a·ble, adjective
a·ban·don·er, noun
a·ban·don·ment, noun
non·a·ban·don·ment, noun
un·a·ban·don·ing, adjective
Synonyms 1. See desert2. 2. Abandon, relinquish, renounce mean to give up all concern in something.
Abandon means to give up or discontinue any further interest in something because of discouragement, weariness, distaste, or the like:
to abandon one's efforts. Relinquish implies being or feeling compelled to give up something one would prefer to keep:
to relinquish a long-cherished desire. Renounce implies making (and perhaps formally stating) a voluntary decision to give something up:
to renounce worldly pleasures. 3. yield, surrender, resign, waive, abdicate.
Antonyms
1. keep. 2. continue; begin, start. 3. retain.