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.