Definitions for: Forlorn


[adj] pitiable in circumstances especially through abandonment; "desolate and despairing"; "left forlorn"
[adj] marked by or showing hopelessness; "the last forlorn attempt"; "a forlorn cause"



Webster (1913) Definition: For*lorn", a. [OE., p. p. of forlesen to lose utterly,
AS. forle['o]san (p. p. forloren); pref. for- + le['o]san (in
comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw.
f["o]rlora, Dan. forloren, Goth. fraliusan to lose. See
For-, and Lorn, a., Lose, v. t.]
1. Deserted; abandoned; lost.

Of fortune and of hope at once forlorn. --Spenser.

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children.
--Shak.

2. Destitute; helpless; in pitiful plight; wretched;
miserable; almost hopeless; desperate.

For here forlorn and lost I tread. --Goldsmith.

The condition of the besieged in the mean time was
forlorn in the extreme. --Prescott.

She cherished the forlorn hope that he was still
living. --Thomson.

A forlorn hope [D. verloren hoop, prop., a lost band or
troop; verloren, p. p. of verliezen to lose + hoop band;
akin to E. heap. See For-, and Heap.] (Mil.), a body
of men (called in F. enfants perdus, in G. verlornen
posten) selected, usually from volunteers, to attempt a
breach, scale the wall of a fortress, or perform other
extraordinarily perilous service; also, a desperate case
or enterprise.

Syn: Destitute, lost; abandoned; forsaken; solitary;
helpless; friendless; hopeless; abject; wretched;
miserable; pitiable.


For*lorn", n.
1. A lost, forsaken, or solitary person.

Forced to live in Scotland a forlorn. --Shak.

2. A forlorn hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]

Our forlorn of horse marched within a mile of the
enemy. --Oliver
Cromvell.

Synonyms: desolate, forsaken, godforsaken, hopeless, lorn

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