definition of the word abandonment

Compare French abandonnement, from abandonner, to abandon, relinquish; abandonner was originally equivalent to mettre à bandon, to leave to the jurisdiction, i.e. of another, bandon being from Low Latin bandum, bannum, order, decree, "ban" (etymology from Wikipedia:Abandonment)

• (RP) IPA: /əˈbændənmənt/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

abandonment (plural abandonments)

1. The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment.

   Quotations

   • The abandonment of the independence of Europe. - Burke

2. (Maritime Law): The relinquishment by the insured to the underwriters of what may remain of the property insured after a loss or damage by a peril insured against.
3. (Common Law): The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege, as to mill site, etc.
4. (Common Law): The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband, or child; desertion.

   Example

   • "Well, since he left her, she's suing him for divorce on grounds of abandonment."

5. The cessation of service on a particular segment of the lines of a common carrier by railroad.
6. A refusal to receive freight so damaged in transit as to be worthless and render carrier liable for its value.
7. (rare) Careless freedom or ease; abandon. - Thomas Carlyle

Definition from Wiktionary Content avaible with GNU Free Documentation License

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