deserter
/dɪˈzɜːrtər/
noun
Origin
Latin
desertor — one who deserts or abandons
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who abandons their duty or post, typically a soldier who leaves the armed forces without permission.
- A person who deserts or abandons a cause, group, or person to whom they were bound by allegiance or duty.
Literal older meaning
one who has abandoned or forsaken
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
deserter
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term carries strong legal and military connotations, reflecting the historical severity of desertion, which was often punishable by death in many historical military codes. The etymological root 'serere' (to join) combined with 'de-' implies breaking a bond or commitment.
Evolution
- Latin
deserere
“to abandon, forsake”
- Latin
desertor
“one who abandons”
Nominal agent derived from the verb
- Old French
deserter
“to abandon, to desert”
Adapted from Latin usage
- Middle English
deserte
“to abandon”
Early form of the verb, leading to the noun agent
- Early Modern English
deserter
“a soldier who leaves without permission”
Specialized military meaning solidified
Connections
Word parts
de-
prefix
away from
serere
root
to join, bind
-er
suffix
agent suffix indicating a person who does an action
Related across languages
French
déserteur
deserter
Spanish
desertor
deserter
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Related to deserter
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.