abandon

abandonment, desertion

noun ah-bahn-DOHN Rare

Also means

surrender, self-abandonment

Usage Note

Abandon has a range of register. Legally, it refers to deserting a spouse or child (abandon de famille). In sport and competition, déclarer l'abandon means to withdraw or retire from a race. In an artistic or romantic register, avec abandon means 'with abandon' — giving oneself over completely — and the word carries this same sense in English borrowing.

Examples

"L'abandon du chien a choqué tout le quartier."

Natural Translation

The abandonment of the dog shocked the whole neighbourhood.

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