 |
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | abondoner, from abandon 'surrendering', from a bandon 'into someone's power' |
| |||||||||
a‧ban‧don1 W3
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for : 
How could she abandon her own child?
How could she abandon her own child?2 to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay [= leave]: We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way. Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.
We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.3 to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue : The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.
The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.4 to stop having a particular idea, belief, or attitude : They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles.
They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles.5 to feel an emotion so strongly that you let it control you completely : She abandoned herself to grief.
abandon yourself to something
literaryShe abandoned herself to grief. —abandonment noun [uncountable]
