derelinquere

Derelinquere is a Latin verb meaning to desert, abandon, or forsake. It conveys deliberate withdrawal from a person, place, duty, or cause, often with moral or social weight. The term can describe abandoning someone to their fate, leaving behind a responsibility, or forsaking a belief or obligation. In nuance, it is stronger than relinquere (to leave behind or relinquish) and can carry connotations of betrayal or neglect, though not every use implies moral failing.

Etymology and construction: derelinquere is formed from de- meaning away or off plus relinquere “to leave behind.” It belongs to the third conjugation of Latin -ere verbs. Its principal parts are derelinquo, derelinquere, dereliqui, derelictum. As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object in the accusative (e.g., amicum, urbem) and often stands in contexts of desertion or abandonment.

Grammar and usage: Derelinquere is conjugated like other -ere verbs of the third conjugation. Example present indicative forms: derelinquō, derelinquis, derelinquit, derelinquīmus, dereliquistis, dereliquunt. The perfect forms use the third principal part dereliquī (e.g., dereliquī) and the passive participle derelictus (with agreement derelicta, derelictum). Common uses include phrases such as amicos derelinquit (“he abandons his friends”), urbem derelinquit (“he deserts the city”), or fidem derelinquit (“he abandons the faith”).

See also: relinquere, deserere. Derelinquere appears in classical and medieval Latin, often in moral, political, or military contexts.