01 n. 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 i…
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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; backsliding.“The general defection of the whole realm.” — Sir J. Davies.