devastation
pronunciation
How to pronounce devastation in British English:
UK [ˌdevəˈsteɪʃn]
How to pronounce devastation in American English:
US [ˌdevəˈsteɪʃn]
-
- Noun:
- the state of being decayed or destroyed
- the feeling of being counfounded or overwhelmed
- an event that results in total destruction
- plundering with excessive damage and destruction
- termination by an act of destruction
Word Origin
- devastation (n.)
- mid-15c., from Middle French dévastation, from Late Latin devastationem (nominative devastatio), from past participle stem of Latin devastare "lay waste completely," from de- "completely" (see de-) + vastare "lay waste," from vastus "empty, desolate" (see waste (v.)).
Example
- 1. In general , devastation is bad for business .
- 2. Yet despite this devastation in a big production centre , the local economy recovered very fast .
- 3. Given tohoku 's devastation , it is worth a try there .
- 4. The search is now on for space-rocks large enough to cause serious devastation if they hit earth .
- 5. The devastation of world wars and the rise of cities led to a demand for grand-scale visions .