desolate

[ adjective des-uh-lit; verb des-uh-leyt ]
/ adjective ˈdɛs ə lɪt; verb ˈdɛs əˌleɪt /

adjective

verb (used with object), des·o·lat·ed, des·o·lat·ing.

Origin of desolate

1325–75; Middle English < Latin dēsōlātus forsaken, past participle of dēsōlāre, equivalent to dē- de- + sōlāre to make lonely, derivative of sōlus sole1; see -ate1

synonym study for desolate

4. Desolate, disconsolate, forlorn suggest one who is in a sad and wretched condition. The desolate person is deprived of human consolation, relationships, or presence: desolate and despairing. The disconsolate person is aware of the efforts of others to console and comfort, but is unable to be relieved or cheered by them: She remained disconsolate even in the midst of friends. The forlorn person is lost, deserted, or forsaken by friends: wretched and forlorn in a strange city.

OTHER WORDS FROM desolate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH desolate

desolate dissolute

Example sentences from the Web for desolate

British Dictionary definitions for desolate

desolate

adjective (ˈdɛsəlɪt)

verb (ˈdɛsəˌleɪt) (tr)

Derived forms of desolate

desolater or desolator, noun desolately, adverb desolateness, noun

Word Origin for desolate

C14: from Latin dēsōlāre to leave alone, from de- + sōlāre to make lonely, lay waste, from sōlus alone