Origin: 1325–75; Middle English <
Latin dēsōlātus forsaken, past participle of
dēsōlāre, equivalent to
dē- de- +
sōlāre to make lonely, derivative of
sōlus sole1; see
-ate1 Related forms des·o·late·ly, adverb
des·o·late·ness, noun
des·o·lat·er, des·o·la·tor, noun
qua·si-des·o·late, adjective
qua·si-des·o·late·ly, adverb
Can be confused: desolate, dissolute (see synonym study at the current entry).
Synonyms
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.
Antonyms
4. delighted, happy.