I. des ‧ o ‧ late 1 /ˈdesələt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: desolatus , from solus 'alone' ]
1 . a place that is desolate is empty and looks sad because there are no people there:
a desolate landscape
2 . someone who is desolate feels very sad and lonely
—desolately adverb
—desolation /ˌdesəˈleɪʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable]
II. des ‧ o ‧ late 2 /ˈdesəleɪt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive] literary
to make someone feel very sad and lonely SYN devastate :
David was desolated by his wife’s death.
—desolated adjective