Meaning & Definition of word "Forlorn"
Forlorn
/fɔːrˈlɔrn/
adjective:
- 1. Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.
- Example: The forlorn puppy sat by the side of the road, waiting for someone to adopt him.
- 2. Unlikely to succeed or unlikely to be fulfilled.
- Example: His forlorn hopes of a reconciliation faded over time.
- 3. Having an expression of sorrow or despair.
- Example: She cast a forlorn glance out the window as the rain began to pour.
- 4. Desolate or dreary; bleak.
- Example: The forlorn landscape stretched for miles, without a single sign of life.
Etymology
●Middle English, from the past participle of forleoren, meaning 'to lose' or 'to despair.'
Common Phrases and Expressions
forlorn hope:
a hope that is unlikely to succeed
forlorn figure:
a person who appears sad and lonely
forlorn look:
a sad or despondent expression
Related Words
despair:
the complete loss or absence of hope.
abandon:
to leave someone or something behind.
loneliness:
the state of being alone, often associated with sadness.
Slang Meanings of forlorn
Meaning: feeling down or sad
● Example Sentence: I’ve been so forlorn since the breakup.
Meaning: looking pitiful
● Example Sentence: That forlorn puppy at the shelter breaks my heart.