desolation
pronunciation
How to pronounce desolation in British English:
UK [ˌdesəˈleɪʃn]
How to pronounce desolation in American English:
US [ˌdɛsəˈleʃən, ˌdɛz-]
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- Noun:
- the state of being decayed or destroyed
- a bleak and desolate atmosphere
- sadness resulting from being forsaken or abandoned
- an event that results in total destruction
Word Origin
- desolation (n.)
- late 14c., "action of laying waste," also "sorrow, grief," from Old French desolacion (12c.) "desolation, devastation, hopelessness, despair," from Church Latin desolationem (nominative desolatio), noun of action from past participle stem of desolare (see desolate (adj.)). Meaning "condition of being ruined or wasted" is from early 15c.
Synonym
Example
- 1. In towns a few miles farther from the plants , desolation and desperation persist .
- 2. The traveler stood there recalling the desolation that once was ; a beautiful oak forest stood there now-all because someone cared .
- 3. But the courage was perhaps born of desolation .
- 4. Looking at the desolation that is friendster or myspace , I wonder how it 's possible that digital objects can end up looking like ruins .
- 5. If we seek to fill the void of our own loneliness in seeking love from others , we will inevitably find no consolation but only a deeply desolation .