From Latin 'desertum' (thing abandoned) — 'de-' (away) + 'serere' (to join). A desert is a place unlinked from habitation.
A barren area of land where little precipitation occurs and living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.
From Old French 'desert' (wasteland, wilderness), from Late Latin 'dēsertum' (thing abandoned), the neuter past participle of 'dēserere' (to abandon, to forsake), from 'dē-' (away, completely) + 'serere' (to join, to link, to put in a row). A desert is thus literally a 'place that has been abandoned.' The same Latin verb 'dēserere' gives English 'desert' (to abandon) and 'deserter.' Note that the unrelated word
The word 'desert' literally means 'unjoined, abandoned' — a place severed from human connection. The verb 'to desert' (abandon your post) is the same word with a different stress: 'DEZ-ert' vs. 'dez-ERT.' Meanwhile, 'dessert' (the sweet course) is completely unrelated — it comes from French 'desservir' (to un-serve, to clear the table). The silent 's' in 'dessert' is the only