‖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. [ 1913 Webster ] I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer. ix. 11. [ 1913 Webster ] And the silvery marish flowers that throng
The desolate creeks and pools among. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless. [ 1913 Webster ] Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. Ps. xxv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ] Voice of the poor and desolate. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Destitute of; lacking in. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ] I were right now of tales desolate. Chaucer. Syn. -- Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
