[dev.as.tate] vt -tat.ed ; -tat.ing [L devastatus, pp. of devastare, fr. de- + vastare to lay waste--more at waste] (1638) 1: to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action
2: to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness: overwhelm "devastated by grief" "her wisecrack devastated the class" syn see ravage -- dev.as.tat.ing.ly adv -- dev.as.ta.tion n -- dev.as.tat.ive adj -- dev.as.ta.tor n