desert1 /dɪˈzəːt /
▸ verb [with obj.] abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous:
he deserted his wife and daughter and went back to England.
▪ (of people) leave (a place), causing it to appear empty:
the tourists have deserted the beaches.
▪ (of a quality or ability) fail (someone) when most needed:
her luck deserted her.
▪ [no obj.] Military illegally leave the armed forces:
his life in the regiment had been such a hell that he decided to desert.
– ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French deserter, from late Latin desertare, from Latin desertus ‘left waste’ (see desert2).