devastated
UK: ˈdevəsteɪtɪd | US: ˈdevəsteɪtɪd
adj. completely destroyed or ruined
adj. extremely upset or shocked
vt. (past tense of devastate) to cause severe destruction or overwhelming emotional pain
devastated = de<completely> + vast<waste> + ed<past participle suffix>
- de- (Latin prefix): "completely" or "down," intensifying the root.
- vast (from Latin vastus): "waste" or "desolate," referring to emptiness or destruction.
- -ed: Forms past participles or adjectives indicating a state.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin devastare ("to lay waste"), combining de- (thoroughly) + vastare ("to make empty"). It entered English via Old French devaster, retaining its core sense of utter destruction. Over time, it gained figurative use for emotional devastation, mirroring the physical sense of being "emptied" or "ruined."
The hurricane devastated the coastal town, leaving thousands homeless.
She was devastated by the sudden loss of her mentor.
Years of war have devastated the region's infrastructure.
The team felt devastated after their last-minute defeat.
The fire devastated centuries-old forests in just hours.