Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

desolation

/ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.03 in modern English

Syllables: des-o-la-tion
IPA: /ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/

11

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The state of being desolated or laid waste

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A place or country wasted and forsaken.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"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."

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: desolacioun, -, desolacion, dēsōlātiō

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

desolations (plural)

Synonyms

ruin solitariness destitution gloom gloominess devastation forlornness loneliness

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization nation location application

Questions

How do you pronounce desolation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/.
What does desolation mean?: The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation.
Where does desolation come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce desolation

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “desolation”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌdɛsəˈleɪʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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