defection

  • 1défection — [ defɛksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1680; « éclipse » XIIIe; lat. defectio, de deficere → défectif 1 ♦ Abandon (par qqn) d une cause, d un parti. ⇒ désertion. Défection générale, massive. On signale la défection de nombreux militants. Faire défection :… …

    Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 2defection — defection, desertion, apostasy mean an abandonment that involves the breaking of a moral or legal bond or tie and that is highly culpable from the point of view of the person, cause, or party abandoned. Defection emphasizes both the fact of one s …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3défection — DÉFECTION. s. f. Abandonnement d un parti auquel on est lié. Il se dit De sujets qui abandonnent leur Prince, de troupes qui abandonnent leur Général, d alliés qui abandonnent leurs alliés. Apres la défection de ces troupes, il ne fut plus en… …

    Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • 4Defection — De*fec tion, n. [L. defectio: cf. F. d[ e]fection. See {Defect}.] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy;… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5defection — Defection. s. f. Revolte, rebellion, soustraction de l obeïssance deuë. Il ne se dit guere qu en parlant des Troupes lorsqu elles se mutinent & abandonnent le service. Aprés la defection de ses troupes, il ne fut plus en estat de disputer l… …

    Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • 6Defection — Defection, lat., Abfall; Schwäche …

    Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • 7defection — index abandonment (desertion), abjuration, absence (nonattendance), bad faith, dereliction, desertion …

    Law dictionary

  • 8defection — 1540s, action of failing; 1550s, action of deserting a party, leader, etc. from L. defectionem (nom. defectio) desertion, revolt, failure, noun of action from pp. stem of deficere (see DEFICIENT (Cf. deficient)). Originally used often of faith …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 9defection — [n] abandonment alienation, apostasy, backsliding, deficiency, dereliction, desertion, disaffection, disloyalty, disownment, divorce, estrangement, failing, failure, faithlessness, forsaking, lack, parting, rebellion, recreancy, rejection,… …

    New thesaurus

  • 10defection — [dē fek′shən, difek′shən] n. [L defectio < defectus: see DEFECT] 1. abandonment of loyalty, duty, or principle; desertion 2. the act of defecting from one s country 3. a failing or failure …

    English World dictionary