I. ˈdestəˌtü]t, -stə.ˌtyü], usu ]d.+V\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English destitut, from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere to set away, leave alone, forsake, from de- + -stituere (from statuere to set) — more at statute
1. obsolete : abandoned
2. : bereft or divested
a city street destitute of trees
no danger of our becoming destitute of facts — S.C.Pepper
: bare or empty
a lake destitute of fish
: lacking any provision or showing a want
a new religion of authority singularly destitute of safeguards against self-deception — W.R.Inge
: subject to a lack or deficiency
of all men alive he is possibly the most completely destitute of the mystical sense — W.L.Sullivan
destitute of all sense of personal dignity
: possessing or showing no vestige
as destitute of conscience as a snake — W.L.Sullivan
— used with of
3. : lacking possessions and resources ; especially : lacking the necessaries of life : suffering extreme want
the death of a destitute widow from starvation — Julian Maclaren-Ross
homes for the destitute
the result was impoverished villages in India, hideous and destitute towns in England — Lewis Mumford
in a destitute condition for clothes
Synonyms: see poor
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin destitutus
1. obsolete : forsake
2.
a. : to deprive or divest — used with of
the accident will destitute us of all our liquid assets
b. archaic : to deprive of office : depose
3. archaic : to lay waste : devastate
4. obsolete : to make void : frustrate