desertion
UK[dɪˈzɜːʃn]US[dɪˈzɜːrʃn]
n
the act of leaving the armed forces without permission and with no intention of returning.
n
the act of leaving somebody without help or support; the fact of being left in this way.
Morpheme Breakdown
desert
ion
desert
to abandon
ion
act or state
Etymology
the word 'desertion' is built upon the latin verb 'deserere', meaning 'to abandon or forsake', which itself is a compound of 'de-' (indicating reversal or removal) and 'serere' (to join or bind together). the literal sense is thus 'to unjoin, to sever a connection'. the suffix '-ion' was added in latin to form nouns denoting an action or its result. entering english via old french, the term evolved from a general sense of abandonment to its specific modern legal and relational meanings, capturing the act of severing one's duty or bond, whether to a military unit or a person.
Analysis
Structure: desert (to abandon) + ion (act or state)
desert (from latin 'desertus', past participle of 'deserere' meaning 'to abandon, forsake, leave'); ion (a latin suffix forming nouns of action or state).
Examples
the soldier was court-martialed for desertion.
she felt a deep sense of betrayal after his desertion of the family.
the high rate of desertion weakened the army's effectiveness.