desolate

Where does the word "desolate" come from? It comes from Latin desolare, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Desolate’s story begins in Latin: desolare meant “to leave utterly alone.” To leave utterly alone, from de- (thoroughly) and solus (alone). It reached English by 1300s as desolate. Settled as the English word for a place left empty and abandoned. Today, desolate means left empty and deserted, or feeling utterly forlorn and abandoned.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient desolare "to leave utterly alone", to leave utterly alone, from de- (thoroughly) and solus (alone).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s desolate "left empty and abandoned, or feeling forlorn", settled as the English word for a place left empty and abandoned.