[des.ti.tute] adj [ME, fr. L destitutus, pp. of destituere to abandon, deprive, fr. de- + statuere to set up--more at statute] (14c) 1: lacking something needed or desirable "a lake ~ of fish"
2: lacking possessions and resources; esp: suffering extreme poverty "a ~ old man" -- des.ti.tute.ness n