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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Desolate \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.
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2. To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a
city.
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Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war.
--Sparks.
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Desolate \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.
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I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I
will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an
inhabitant. --Jer. ix. 11.
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And the silvery marish flowers that throng
The desolate creeks and pools among. --Tennyson.
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2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed;
as, desolate altars.
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3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless.
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Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. --Ps. xxv. 16.
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Voice of the poor and desolate. --Keble.
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4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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5. Destitute of; lacking in. [Obs.]
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I were right now of tales desolate. --Chaucer.

Syn: Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.
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