Des"o*late (?), a. [L. desolatus, p. p. of desolare to leave alone, forsake; de- + solare to make lonely, solus alone. See Sole, a.]

1.

Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house.

I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer. ix. 11.

And the silvery marish flowers that throng The desolate creeks and pools among. Tennyson.

2.

Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars.

3.

Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless.

Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. Ps. xxv. 16.

Voice of the poor and desolate. Keble.

4.

Lost to shame; dissolute.

[Obs.]

Chaucer.

5.

Destitute of; lacking in.

[Obs.]

I were right now of tales desolate. Chaucer.

Syn. -- Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.

 

© Webster 1913.


Des"o*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desolated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desolating.]

1.

To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.

2.

To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city.

Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war. Sparks.

 

© Webster 1913.

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