desert
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desert¹
- /ˈdɛz.ət/ UK
- /ˈdɛz.ɚt/ US
- /dəˈzɑɹt/
Rhymes with -ɛzə(ɹ)t
Where it comes from
From Middle English desert (“wilderness”), from Old French desert, from Latin dēsertum, past participle of dēserō (“to abandon”). Generally displaced native Old English wēsten. False cognate of Egyptian dšrt.
noun deserts
- A barren area of land or desolate terrain, especially one with little water or vegetation; a wasteland. And ye poore Pilgrimes, that vvith reſtleſſe toyle VVearie your ſelues in vvandring deſert vvayes […]
- In particular, a barren, arid area of land which is hot, with sandy, rocky, or parched ground. It is wholly out of the power of language to convey any idea of the blissful enjoyment of obtaining water, after an almost total want of it, during eight and forty hours, in the scorching regions of an Arabian desert, in the month of July.
- Any barren place or situation. He declared that the country was an intellectual desert; that he was famishing for spiritual aliment, and for discourse on matters beyond mere nuggets, prospectings, and the price of gold.
adjective
- Usually of a place: abandoned, deserted, or uninhabited. They were marooned on a desert island in the Pacific.
desert²
- /dɪˈzɜːt/ UK
- /dɪˈzɝt/ US
- /dəˈzɝt/ US
Sounds like dessert · Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)t
Where it comes from
Borrowed from French déserter, from Late Latin dēsertō, from Latin dēsertus, from dēserō (“abandon”).
verb deserts · deserting · deserted
- 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. You can't just drive off and desert me here, in the middle of nowhere.
- To leave one's duty or post, especially to leave a military or naval unit without permission. Anyone found deserting will be punished.
desert³
- /dɪˈzɜːt/ UK
- /dɪˈzɝt/ US
- /dəˈzɝt/ US
Sounds like dessert · Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)t
Where it comes from
From Middle English desert, deseert, from Old French deserte, from deservir (“to deserve”), from Vulgar Latin dēserviō (“to gain or merit by giving service”).
noun deserts
- That which is deserved or merited; a just punishment or reward. just deserts
desert⁴
noun deserts
- Obsolete form of dessert.dessert Francis, besides being an excellent Cook, knowing how to provide genteel Dinners, and giving aid in dressing them, prepared the Desert, made the Cake, and did every thing that Hyde & wife conjointly do;—[…]
