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maroon

verb

/məˈruːn/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of maroon

To leave someone or something in an isolated or deserted place, often without any means of escape or assistance.
"The captain threatened to maroon any mutineer on a deserted island."

Detailed meaning of maroon

This action can result from deliberate abandonment or unintentional circumstances. To maroon someone implies stranding them in an unfamiliar, often uninhabited location, cutting off their connection to civilization or aid. The term originates from the practice of leaving individuals on remote islands, particularly in historical instances involving sailors or castaways. In a broader sense, "marooning" conveys a sense of helplessness, abandonment, and seclusion, where individuals are left to fend for themselves in a desolate environment.

Example sentences containing maroon

1. Pirates maroon a sailor on a desolate island, no ship in sight, hope fades.
2. They’ll maroon us here without supplies if we don't earn our keep, I fear.
3. The crew, cruel and cold, maroon him on an island, alone and scared.
4. He tried to maroon me in the wilderness, but I found my way back, strong.
5. Stranded, alone; they maroon her in the desert with the hot sun blazing.
6. In novels, heroes emerge when villains maroon them in desolate terrains.

History and etymology of maroon

The verb 'maroon' has its etymological origins in the Caribbean, particularly from the French word 'marron,' which referred to a fugitive or runaway slave. The term likely has its roots in the French word 'marronner,' meaning 'to flee' or 'to go into the woods.' Fugitive slaves in the Caribbean who escaped from their captors would often establish communities in remote or inaccessible areas, and they came to be known as 'maroons.' Over time, the word 'maroon' transitioned into English as a verb, where it came to mean leaving someone or something in an isolated or deserted place, often without any means of escape or assistance. The etymology of 'maroon' highlights its historical association with the escape and isolation of runaway slaves, emphasizing the act of abandoning individuals in remote or inhospitable locations.

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Further usage examples of maroon

1. "Maroon him," the captain ordered, eyes cold and voice void of mercy.
2. They plan to maroon us on this barren rock; we must act, or perish alone.
3. If we maroon him on that isolated isle, he’ll never spill our secrets.
4. In the dark of night, they maroon the traitor on an icy, unforgiving land.
5. Aliens maroon astronauts on a distant planet, survival now uncertain.
6. If we don't repair the boat, the storm will maroon us here.
7. Tales of pirates often involve them seeking treasure on islands where they maroon their foes.
8. To maroon someone in such a desolate place seems cruel and unusual.
9. The broken compass could easily maroon us in the middle of the ocean.
10. He wondered if his decision would maroon the group in the wilderness.
11. They feared the coming typhoon might maroon them on the tiny atoll.
12. You shouldn’t maroon your feelings; express them openly.
13. Will this old plane maroon us in the mountains?
14. Sometimes, technical glitches can maroon astronauts in space.
15. If the bridge collapses, it'll maroon the villagers from the main town.
16. It's essential to have a backup plan, lest we maroon ourselves unintentionally.
17. Never maroon a friend when they need you the most.
18. Many novels describe adventurers who maroon on uncharted lands after shipwrecks.
19. Some animals can survive even if humans unintentionally maroon them in unfamiliar territories.
20. The dense fog might maroon the ship in these treacherous waters.
21. To maroon him in the desert without water was a death sentence.
22. Legends tell of a ghost ship that seeks to maroon sailors on haunted shores.
23. People should always be prepared when exploring, so they don't maroon themselves unknowingly.
24. The two explorers made a pact never to maroon the other, no matter the challenge.