des´ō̇-lā̇t (very frequently in the Old Testament for שׁמם, shāmēm, and its derivatives; less frequently, חרב, ḥārēbh, and its derivatives, and other words. In the New Testament it stands for ἔρημος, érēmos ([Mat 23:38]; [Act 1:20]; [Gal 4:27]) erēmóō ([Rev 17:16]), and monóō ([1Ti 5:5])): From Latin de, intens., solus, alone. Several shades of meaning can be distinguished: (1) Its primary sense is “left lonely,” “forlorn,” e.g. [Psa 25:16], “Have mercy upon me; for I am desolate” (Hebrew yāḥı̄dh, “alone”); [1Ti 5:5], “she that is a widow indeed, and desolate” (Greek memonōménē, “left alone”). (2) In the sense of “laid waste,” “destitute of inhabitants,” e.g. [Jer 4:7], “to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.” (3) With the meaning “comfortless,” “afflicted,” e.g. [Psa 143:4], “My heart within me is desolate.” (4) In the sense of “barren,” “childless,” “unfruitful,” e.g. [Job 15:34]; [Isa 49:21] (Hebrew galmūdh).
