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, 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, 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.