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forlorn hope

 - 2 dictionary results

forlorn hope

 
Use forlorn hope in a Sentence
–noun
1. a perilous or desperate enterprise.
2. a vain hope.
3. Obsolete. a group of soldiers assigned to perform some unusually dangerous service.
Origin:
1530–40; folk-etymological alter. of D verloren hoop lit., lost troop
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To forlorn hope
forlorn hope  
n.  

  1. An arduous or nearly hopeless undertaking.

  2. An advance guard of troops sent on a hazardous mission.


[By folk etymology from Dutch verloren hoop, advance guard : verloren, past participle of verliezen, to lose; see leu- in Indo-European roots + hoop, troop.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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