abandon

abandon · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂éd
2. Proto-Italic*ad
3. Latinad
4. Old Frencha
5. Proto-Germanic*bannaną
6. Frankish*bann
7. Old Frenchban
8. Proto-Indo-European*deh₃-
9. Proto-Indo-European*dóh₃r̥ ~ *déh₃n̥s
10. Proto-Indo-European*déh₃nom
11. Proto-Italic*dōnom
12. Proto-Italic*dōnāō?
13. Latindonāre
14. Old Frenchdoner
15. Old Frencha ban doner
16. Old Frenchabandoner
17. Middle Englishabandounen
18. English todayabandon

From Middle English abandounen, from Old French abandoner, formed from a (“at, to”) + bandon (“jurisdiction, control”), from Late Latin bannum (“proclamation”), bannus, bandum, from Frankish *ban, *bann, from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“to proclaim, command”) (whence English ban), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to speak”). See also ban, banal. Displaced Middle English forleten (“to abandon”), from Old English forlǣtan, anforlǣtan; see forlet; and Middle English forleven (“to leave behind, abandon”), from Old English forlǣfan; see forleave. Compare typologically abdicate, Russian отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja) (akin to приказа́ть (prikazátʹ), сказа́ть (skazátʹ), указа́ть (ukazátʹ)).

abandon · noun²

1. Old French · derived fromabondonner
2. Old French · derived fromabandon
3. Middle English · inherited fromabandoun
4. English todayabandon

From Middle English abandoun, from Old French abandon, from Old French abondonner.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• First attested from around (1350 to 1470) To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.
• First attested from around (1350 to 1470) To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
• First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century. To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.
• Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 16ᵗʰ century. To subdue; to take control of.
• Attested from the mid 16ᵗʰ century until the mid 17ᵗʰ century. To cast out; to banish; to expel; to reject.
• First attested in the mid 18ᵗʰ century. To no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.
• Early 19th century. A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)