deserting

noun

A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland.

In particular, a barren, arid area of land which is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground.

(figuratively) Any barren place or situation.

(often in the plural; now chiefly technical (in philosophy) or fossil) That which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward.

Obsolete form of dessert. [The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc.]

verb

To leave (anything that depends on one's presence to survive, exist, or succeed), especially when contrary to a promise or obligation; to abandon; to forsake.

To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or naval unit without permission.

adjective

Usually of a place: abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited.

Roots

serosert- · Latin · join, bind

Synonyms & related words for deserting

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Words related to deserting

Explore words related to deserting — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include forsake, abandoning, desertion, defecting, retreating, leaving, withdrawing, decamping. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does deserting come from?

The word deserting breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root sert-, from Latin sero (“join, bind”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.