Forlorn

Adjective

Definition: Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.

Synonyms: Desolate, Abandoned, Lonely, Miserable, Sad

Antonyms: Happy, Content, Joyful

Examples:
  • She sat on the park bench looking forlorn and lost.
  • The old house stood forlorn, with broken windows and overgrown garden.
Mnemonics:
  • "Forlorn" sounds like "forelone" which can be associated with being left alone or abandoned.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English "forloren" meaning "deprived of" or "deserted"

Historical Usage:

The word has been used since the 14th century to describe a sense of sadness and abandonment.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Forlorn hope"

Explanation:

A hopeless or desperate cause or situation.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "forlorn" with "forgotten".

Explanation:

While both words convey a sense of abandonment, "forlorn" carries a stronger connotation of sadness and loneliness.

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