|
Search, browse, and study this dictionary to learn more about the early American, Christian language. 
1828.mshaffer.com › Word [desert]
DESERT, a. S as z [L. To sow, plant or scatter.] 1. Literally, forsaken; hence, uninhabited; as a desert isle. Hence, wild; untilled; waste; uncultivated; as a desert land or country.2. Void; emprty; unoccupied.Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air.DESERT, n. An uninhabited tract of land; a region in its natural state; a wilderness; a solitude; particularly, a vast sandy plain, as the deserts of Arabia and Africa. But the word may be applied to an uninhabited country covered with wood. DESERT, v.t. [L. To forsake.] 1. To forsake; to leave utterly; to abandon; to quit with a view not to return to; as, to desert a friend; to desert our country; to desert a cause.2. To leave, without permission, a military band, or a ship, in which one is enlisted; to forsake the service in which one is engaged, in violation of duty; as, to desert the army; to desert ones colors; to desert a ship.DESERT, v.i. To run away; to quit a service without permission; as, to desert from the army. DESERT, n. 1. A deserving; that which gives a right to reward or demands, or which renders liable to punishment; merit or demerit; that which entitles to a recompense of equal to the offense; good conferred, or evil done, which merits an equivalent return. A wise legislature will reward or punish men according to their deserts.2. That which is deserved; reward or punishment merited. In a future life, every man will receive his desert.
|
Evolution (or devolution) of this word [desert]
| 1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
|---|
DESERT, a. S as z [L. To sow, plant or scatter.] 1. Literally, forsaken; hence, uninhabited; as a desert isle. Hence, wild; untilled; waste; uncultivated; as a desert land or country.2. Void; emprty; unoccupied.Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air.DESERT, n. An uninhabited tract of land; a region in its natural state; a wilderness; a solitude; particularly, a vast sandy plain, as the deserts of Arabia and Africa. But the word may be applied to an uninhabited country covered with wood. DESERT, v.t. [L. To forsake.] 1. To forsake; to leave utterly; to abandon; to quit with a view not to return to; as, to desert a friend; to desert our country; to desert a cause.2. To leave, without permission, a military band, or a ship, in which one is enlisted; to forsake the service in which one is engaged, in violation of duty; as, to desert the army; to desert ones colors; to desert a ship.DESERT, v.i. To run away; to quit a service without permission; as, to desert from the army. DESERT, n. 1. A deserving; that which gives a right to reward or demands, or which renders liable to punishment; merit or demerit; that which entitles to a recompense of equal to the offense; good conferred, or evil done, which merits an equivalent return. A wise legislature will reward or punish men according to their deserts.2. That which is deserved; reward or punishment merited. In a future life, every man will receive his desert. |
DES'ERT, a. [s as z; L. desertus, desero; de and sere, to sow, plant or scatter; Fr. desert; Sp. desierto.]- Literally, forsaken; hence, uninhabited; as, a desert isle. Hence, wild; unfilled; waste; uncultivated; as, a desert land or country.
- Void; empty; unoccupied.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air. – Gray.
DES'ERT, n.1 [L. desertum.]An uninhabited tract of land; a region in its natural state; a wilderness; a solitude; particularly, a vast sandy plain, as the deserts of Arabia and Africa. But the word may be applied to an uninhabited country covered with wood.
DE-SERT', n.2 [from deserve.]- A deserving; that which gives a right to reward or demands, or which renders liable to punishment; merit or demerit; that which entitles to a recompense of equal value, or demands a punishment equal to the offense; good conferred, or evil done, which merits an equivalent return. A wise legislature will reward or punish men according to their deserts.
- That which is deserved; reward or punishment merited. In a future life, every man will receive his desert.
DE-SERT', v.i.To run away; to quit a service without permission; as, to desert from the army.
DE-SERT', v.t. [Fr. deserter, from the adjective, and this from the L. desertus, desero, to forsake.]- To forsake; to leave utterly; to abandon; to quit with a view not to return to; as, to desert a friend; to desert our country; to desert a cause.
- To leave without permission, a military band, or a ship, in which one is enlisted; to forsake the service in which one is engaged, in violation of duty; as, to desert the army; to desert one's colors; to desert a ship.
|
De*sert"
- That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly due;
claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward;
merit.
- A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract
incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia
and Africa which are destitute of moisture and vegetation.
- Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without
life or cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate;
solitary; as, they landed on a desert island.
- To leave (especially
something which one should stay by and support); to leave in the
lurch; to abandon; to forsake; -- implying blame, except sometimes
when used of localities; as, to desert a friend, a
principle, a cause, one's country.
- To abandon a
service without leave; to quit military service without permission,
before the expiration of one's term; to abscond.
- A tract, which may be capable of
sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and
uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place.
- To abandon (the service)
without leave; to forsake in violation of duty; to abscond from; as,
to desert the army; to desert one's colors.
|
| 1828 Webster | 1844 Webster | 1913 Webster |
|---|
Thank you for visiting!
- Our goal is to try and improve the quality of the digital form of this dictionary being historically true and accurate to the first American dictionary. Read more ...
- Below you will find three sketches from a talented artist and friend depicting Noah Webster at work. Please tell us what you think.
Divine Study
 
Divine Study
|
Window of Reflection
 
Window of Reflection
|
Enlightening Grace
 
Enlightening Grace
|
136
|
883 |
101
|
961 |
168
|
991 |
Desert DESERT, adjective S as z [Latin To sow, plant or scatter.] 1. Literally, forsaken; hence, uninhabited; as a desert isle. Hence, wild; untilled; waste; uncultivated; as a desert land or country. 2. Void; emprty; unoccupied. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air. DESERT, noun An uninhabited tract of land; a region in its natural state; a wilderness; a solitude; particularly, a vast sandy plain, as the deserts of Arabia and Africa. But the word may be applied to an uninhabited country covered with wood. DESERT, verb transitive [Latin To forsake.] 1. To forsake; to leave utterly; to abandon; to quit with a view not to return to; as, to desert a friend; to desert our country; to desert a cause. 2. To leave, without permission, a military band, or a ship, in which one is enlisted; to forsake the service in which one is engaged, in violation of duty; as, to desert the army; to desert ones colors; to desert a ship. DESERT, verb intransitive To run away; to quit a service without permission; as, to desert from the army. DESERT, noun 1. A deserving; that which gives a right to reward or demands, or which renders liable to punishment; merit or demerit; that which entitles to a recompense of equal to the offense; good conferred, or evil done, which merits an equivalent return. A wise legislature will reward or punish men according to their deserts. 2. That which is deserved; reward or punishment merited. In a future life, every man will receive his desert |
|
| Hard-cover Edition |
331 |
 |
510 |
|
| Compact Edition |
311 |
 |
217 |
|
| CD-ROM |
264 |
 |
179 |
|
* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well. |
| [ + ] |
| Add Search To Your Site |
|
|
|
