Abandonwares

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of software that is no longer being sold or supported by its publisher, often becoming available for free download
2. Applications and games that have been neglected by their original developers and are typically distributed for free
3. Titles that once had commercial value but are now left without updates or sales, often leading to unofficial distribution channels

Etymology: The word is the plural of "abandonware", and it is a tidy coinage: "abandon" joined to "-ware", the same suffix that gave us "software" and "shareware". In the sense the word carries, "-ware" is the bit that matters, since it marks a product, and "abandon" is the part that tells you the product has been left behind by its makers. The "abandon" half traces back through Old French "abandoner", formed from "a ban" ("under a ban" or "under the control of another"), and ultimately from Latin "bannum", a proclamation or legal ban. Its older sense was not about leaving something behind but about surrendering control, which is why a thing cast off by its owner can be called abandoned. The "-ware" element comes from Old English "waru", meaning merchandise or goods, which also gave us "ware" in the sense of pottery and goods for sale.