destitution
UK: ˌdɛstɪˈtjuːʃən | US: ˌdɛstɪˈtuːʃən
n. extreme poverty or lack of basic necessities
n. the state of being deprived or abandoned
destitution = de<away, down> + stit<stand> + ution<noun suffix>
- de (Latin prefix): Indicates reversal or removal, meaning "away" or "down."
- stit (from Latin statuere): Root meaning "to stand" or "to set up."
- ution (noun-forming suffix): Denotes an action or resulting state.
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin destitutio, meaning "abandonment" or "forsaking," the word combines de- (removal) with statuere (to establish). The logic reflects the idea of being "stood down" or deprived of support, evolving into its modern sense of extreme deprivation.
The war left many families in utter destitution.
Charities work to alleviate destitution in urban slums.
His sudden unemployment led to financial destitution.
The documentary exposed the destitution of homeless veterans.
Without social safety nets, economic crises can plunge people into destitution.