destitute
Use Destitute in a sentence
tɪˌtut, -ˌtyut adjective
1.
without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.
2.
deprived of, devoid of, or lacking (often followed by of ): destitute of children.
verb (used with object)
3.
to leave destitute.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēstitūtus (past participle of dēstituere to abandon, deprive of support), equivalent to dē- de- + stit- place, put (combining form of statuere; see statute) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dēstitūtus (past participle of dēstituere to abandon, deprive of support), equivalent to dē- de- + stit- place, put (combining form of statuere; see statute) + -ū- thematic vowel + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
des·ti·tute·ly, adverb
des·ti·tute·ness, noun
pre·des·ti·tute, adjective
un·des·ti·tute, adjective
Synonyms
1. needy, poor, indigent, necessitous, penniless, impoverished. 2. deficient.
1. needy, poor, indigent, necessitous, penniless, impoverished. 2. deficient.
Antonyms
1. affluent.
1. affluent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To destitute
00:10
Destitute
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
destitute (ˈdɛstɪˌtjuːt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj (foll by of) | |
| 1. | lacking the means of subsistence; totally impoverished |
| 2. | completely lacking; deprived or bereft (of): destitute of words |
| 3. | obsolete abandoned or deserted |
| [C14: from Latin dēstitūtus forsaken, from dēstituere to leave alone, from statuere to place] | |
| 'destituteness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
destitute
c.1382, from L. destitutus "abandoned," pp. of destituere "forsake," from de- "away" + statuere "put, place," caus. of stare "to stand," from PIE base *sta- "to stand" (see stet). Originally literal; sense of "lacking resources, impoverished" is c.1540.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Many people who were barely making it a year or so ago are destitute now.
Loans are seldom the most appropriate service for the destitute.
He helped humanize the destitute and destigmatize mental illness.
The army, too, has its hands full assisting the newly destitute.
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