Which of the following does NOT terminate an easement?

The termination of an easement can occur through various means, but the release of the right of easement to the dominant tenement is not a factor that automatically leads to termination. When the holder of the dominant tenement (the land benefiting from the easement) formally releases or relinquishes their claim to the easement, it does not in and of itself terminate the easement unless specified. The easement remains legally in place unless actively terminated via other means or unless the dominant tenement chooses to formally convey it back to the servient tenement (the land burdened by the easement).

In contrast, the other options represent situations that lead to the termination of an easement: if the original purpose for which the easement was created no longer exists, that can lead to its termination; nonuse of a prescriptive easement can result in its extinguishment; and abandonment occurs when the easement is not used for a significant period, indicating that the holder no longer intends to use it. Thus, the correct answer illustrates a scenario that does not lead to the termination of an easement.