- desert (v.)
- "to leave," late 14c., from O.Fr. deserter "leave," lit. "undo or sever connection," from L.L. desertare, freq. of L. deserere "to abandon," from de- "undo" + serere "join" (see series). Military sense is first recorded 1640s.
- desert (n.1)
- "wasteland," early 13c., from O.Fr. desert, from L.L. desertum, lit. "thing abandoned" (used in Vulgate to translate "wilderness"), n. use of neut. pp. of L. deserere "forsake" (see desert (v.)). Sense of "waterless, treeless region" was in M.E. and gradually became the main meaning. Commonly spelled desart in 18c., which is not etymological but at least avoids confusion with the other two senses of the word.
- desert (n.2)
- "suitable reward or punishment" (now usually plural and just), c.1300, from O.Fr. deserte, pp. of deservir "be worthy to have," from L. deservire "serve well" (see deserve).