adj. 1 sad and abandoned or lonely. 2 in a pitiful state; of wretched appearance. 3 desperate, hopeless, forsaken. forlorn hope 1 a faint remaining hope or chance. 2 a desperate enterprise. forlornly adv. forlornness n.
[ past part. of obs. forlese f. OE forleosan (as FOR-, LOSE): forlorn hope f. Du. verloren hoop lost troop, orig. of a storming-party etc. ]