/ ˈdestɪtjuːt; NAmE -tuːt/ adjective
1.
without money, food and the other things necessary for life :
When he died, his family was left completely destitute.
2.
the destitute noun [ pl. ] people who are destitute
3.
~ of sth ( formal ) lacking sth :
They seem destitute of ordinary human feelings.
► des·ti·tu·tion / ˌdestɪˈtjuːʃn; NAmE -ˈtuːʃn/ noun [ U ]:
homelessness and destitution
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense deserted, abandoned, empty ): from Latin destitutus , past participle of destituere forsake, from de- away from + statuere to place.