Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “desert” come from?

Desert comes from French déserter, from Old French desert, from Latin desertus meaning "abandoned," derived from Latin deservire meaning "to abandon."

desert (English): That which is deserved or merited; a just...

Definitions

  1. That which is deserved or merited; a just...

Ancestry of “desert”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdesertThe situation of deserving something; That which...
2Old Frenchdesertdesert
3Latindēsertum—
4Latindēsertus—
5Latindēserō—
6Latindē-—
7Latindē—
8Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
9Latinposteablative singular of postis
10Proto-Italicposti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “desert”

  • desertification
  • semidesert
  • desertlike
  • desertic
  • desertness
  • deserteth
  • desertest
  • nondesert
  • desertscape
  • subdesert
  • deserty
  • antidesertification
  • indesert
  • desertless
  • desertland
  • desertify
  • desertful
  • misdesert
  • desert fruit cake
  • desertlessly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →