devastate

views updated May 18 2018

dev·as·tate / ˈdevəˌstāt/ • v. [tr.] destroy or ruin (something): the city was devastated by a huge earthquake | bad weather has devastated the tourist industry. ∎  cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief: she was devastated by the loss of Damian.DERIVATIVES: dev·as·ta·tion / ˌdevəˈstāshən/ n.dev·as·ta·tor / -ˌstātər/ n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

devastate

views updated Jun 11 2018

devastate XVII (rare before XIX). f. pp. stem of L. dēvāstāre, f. DE- 3 + vāstāre lay waste, f. vāstus WASTE; see -ATE 3.
So devastation XV.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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