Antonyms for abandon


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : uh-ban-duhn
Phonetic Transcription : əˈbæn dən


Definition of abandon

Origin :
  • late 14c., "to give up, surrender (oneself or something), give over utterly; to yield (oneself) utterly (to religion, fornication, etc.)," from Old French abandoner (12c.), from adverbial phrase à bandon "at will, at discretion," from à "at, to" (see ad-) + bandon "power, jurisdiction," from Latin bannum, "proclamation," from a Frankish word related to ban (v.).
  • Mettre sa forest à bandon was a feudal law phrase in the 13th cent. = mettre sa forêt à permission, i.e. to open it freely to any one for pasture or to cut wood in; hence the later sense of giving up one's rights for a time, letting go, leaving, abandoning. [Auguste Brachet, "An Etymological Dictionary of the French Language," transl. G.W. Kitchin, Oxford, 1878]
  • Etymologically, the word carries a sense of "put someone under someone else's control." Meaning "to give up absolutely" is from late 14c. Related: Abandoned; abandoning.
  • noun careless disregard for consequences
  • verb leave behind, relinquish
  • verb leave in troubled state
Example sentences :
  • The men laid down their loads, and sprawled about in abandon.
  • Extract from : « The Leopard Woman » by Stewart Edward White
  • It seemed to her heart-breaking that Martin must be forced to abandon the only things for which he cared.
  • Extract from : « Dust » by Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius
  • Abandon her not until you leave her in the habitations of civilized men.
  • Extract from : « The Last of the Mohicans » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • But doth not Horatio doat on me, and may he not in despair break his heart if I abandon him?
  • Extract from : « Joseph Andrews Vol. 1 » by Henry Fielding
  • It was about the 24th or 25th of January, that they resolved to abandon the ship.
  • Extract from : « The Field of Ice » by Jules Verne
  • I have been compelled, sir, to abandon the party whom you call Slyme.
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
  • "You had already determined to abandon him," observed Gomez Arias.
  • Extract from : « Gomez Arias » by Joaqun Telesforo de Trueba y Coso
  • And meanwhile, there was no reason why I should yet abandon it.
  • Extract from : « The Mystery of Murray Davenport » by Robert Neilson Stephens
  • Why did Capt. Spike abandon you, Jack; you have never told me that.
  • Extract from : « Graham's Magazine Vol. XXXII No. 2. February 1848 » by Various
  • Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon her position.
  • Extract from : « The Prisoner of Zenda » by Anthony Hope

Synonyms for abandon

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019