— desolately , adv. — desolateness , n. — desolater, desolator , n.
adj. /des"euh lit/ ; v. /des"euh layt'/ , adj., v., desolated, desolating .
adj.
1. barren or laid waste; devastated: a treeless, desolate landscape.
2. deprived or destitute of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited.
3. solitary; lonely: a desolate place.
4. having the feeling of being abandoned by friends or by hope; forlorn.
5. dreary; dismal; gloomy: desolate prospects.
v.t.
6. to lay waste; devastate.
7. to deprive of inhabitants; depopulate.
8. to make disconsolate.
9. to forsake or abandon.
[ 1325-75; ME desolatus forsaken, ptp. of desolare, equiv. to de- DE- + solare to make lonely, deriv. of solus SOLE 1 ; see -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. ravaged. 2. desert. 4. lonesome, lost; miserable, wretched, woebegone, woeful, inconsolable, cheerless, hopeless. DESOLATE, DISCONSOLATE, FORLORN suggest one who is in a sad and wretched condition. The DESOLATE person is deprived of human consolation, relationships, or presence: desolate and despairing. The DISCONSOLATE person is aware of the efforts of others to console and comfort, but is unable to be relieved or cheered by them: She remained disconsolate even in the midst of friends. The FORLORN person is lost, deserted, or forsaken by friends: wretched and forlorn in a strange city. 6. ravage, ruin. 8. sadden, depress. 9. desert.
Ant. 4. delighted, happy.