adj. 1. a. Devoid of inhabitants; deserted: "streets which were usually so thronged now grown desolate" (Daniel Defoe). b. Barren; lifeless: the rocky, desolate surface of the moon. 2. Feeling, showing, causing, or expressing sadness or loneliness. See Synonyms at sad. tr.v. (-lāt′) des·o·lat·ed, des·o·lat·ing, des·o·lates 1. To rid or deprive of inhabitants. 2. To lay waste; devastate: "Here we have no wars to desolate our fields" (Michel Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur). 3. To forsake; abandon. 4. To make lonely, forlorn, or wretched. [Middle English desolat, from Latin dēsōlātus, past participle of dēsōlāre, to abandon : dē-, de- + sōlus, alone; see s(w)e- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] deso·late·ly adv. deso·late·ness n. deso·lat′er, deso·la′tor n. |
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