2 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

abandonment

noun

1: the act of giving something up [syn: {forsaking}, {desertion}]

2: withdrawing support or help despite allegiance or responsibility; "his abandonment of his wife and children left them penniless" [syn: {desertion}, {defection}]

3: the voluntary surrender of property (or a right to property) without attempting to reclaim it or give it away

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Abandonment \A*ban"don*ment\ (-ment), noun [Cf. F. abandonnement.]

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

The abandonment of the independence of Europe. --Burke.

2. (Mar. 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. (Com. Law) (a) The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege, as to mill site, etc. (b) The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband, or child; desertion.

4. Careless freedom or ease; abandon. [R.] --Carlyle. ||
  Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM.