transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈde-və-ˌstāt ]
transitive verb
( -tat·ed ; -tat·ing )
Etymology: Latin devastatus, past participle of devastare, from de- + vastare to lay waste — more at waste
Date: 1638
1. : to bring to ruin or desolation by violent action
a country devastated by war
2. : to reduce to chaos, disorder, or helplessness : overwhelm
devastated by grief
her wisecrack devastated the class
Synonyms: see ravage
• dev·as·tat·ing·ly -ˌstā-tiŋ-lē adverb
• dev·as·ta·tion ˌde-və-ˈstā-shən noun
• dev·as·tat·ive ˈde-və-ˌstā-tiv adjective
• dev·as·ta·tor -ˌstā-tər noun