desolation

CEFRC1

/ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, or sadness.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A place or country wasted and forsaken.

Examples

  • The desolation left in his wake is staggering.

  • The Sahara is a sea of desolation.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings
  1. The state of being desolated or laid waste

  2. The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation.

More examples

In context
  • I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

  • One or two uncovered masses appeared like the lingering foot-prints of desolation; but in general where the statelier trees had not taken root, the soil was luxuriantly covered with heath and the golden blossomed furze.

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The bombing led to widespread blank across the city.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

Inherited from Middle English desolacioun, from Middle French, Old French desolacion f, from Latin dēsōlātiō f.