Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: "Desolate"

Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski (for Merriam-Webster)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the word "desolate," examining both its meanings and linguistic roots. Host Peter Sokolowski brings clarity to its usage, provides an illustrative literary example, and ties the word’s etymology to related vocabulary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition & Usage

• Desolate is presented primarily as an adjective.
  • It describes spaces "that lack people, plants or animals that make people feel welcome in a place. Desolate places are, in other words, deserted or barren."
    [00:42]
  • The word can also refer to something "joyless or gloomy."
    [00:42]

2. Literary Example

• Peter Sokolowski shares a sentence from Simon Tolkien in lithub.com:

  "The great novelists were my guide, and none more so than my grandfather. I learned from him complexity of motivation, a willingness to take risks with storytelling, and the vital importance of landscape. Like Thomas Hardy, my grandfather was able to make his readers see what he wrote, whether it be the beauty of Rivendell or the desolate landscapes of Mordor."
  — Simon Tolkien [00:42]

  • This example highlights how "desolate" is used to evoke the bleakness of Mordor.

3. Etymology & Related Words

• Sokolowski traces “desolate” to its Latin origins:
  • "The word desolate hasn't strayed far from its Latin roots. Its earliest meaning of deserted mirrors that of its Latin ancestor, desolatus, which comes from the verb desolare, meaning to leave all alone for sake, empty of inhabitants." — Peter Sokolowski [01:34]
  • The root is "solus," meaning “lone, acting without a partner, lonely, deserted.”
    [01:48]
  • Related words include "soliloquy," "solitary," "solitude," and "solo."

4. Additional Grammatical Note

• "Desolate" also functions as a verb, with a slightly different pronunciation:
  • "Desolate, with its most common meanings being to lay waste and to make wretched, to make someone deeply dejected or distressed."
    — Peter Sokolowski [02:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Desolate is an adjective. It describes places that lack people, plants or animals that make people feel welcome in a place. Desolate places are, in other words, deserted or barren.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [00:42]

• "Like Thomas Hardy, my grandfather was able to make his readers see what he wrote, whether it be the beauty of Rivendell or the desolate landscapes of Mordor."
  — Simon Tolkien (quoted by Peter Sokolowski) [00:57]

• “The word desolate hasn't strayed far from its Latin roots. Its earliest meaning of deserted mirrors that of its Latin ancestor, desolatus, which comes from the verb desolare, meaning to leave all alone for sake, empty of inhabitants.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [01:34]

• “Desolate also functions as a verb...to lay waste and to make wretched, to make someone deeply dejected or distressed.”
  — Peter Sokolowski [02:04]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:42] – Definition of "desolate" as an adjective; core meaning
• [00:57] – Literary usage example (Simon Tolkien)
• [01:34] – Etymological roots in Latin
• [01:48] – Related words (soliloquy, solitary, solitude, solo)
• [02:04] – Explanation of "desolate" as a verb

Summary Flow

The episode succinctly explores "desolate," giving listeners an accessible yet thorough exploration of its meaning, usage, and origins. Sokolowski, in his warm and educational style, ensures the word's depth and versatility are understood, reinforced by a vivid literary example and connections to other "lone"-related terms. Perfect for those seeking a quick, insightful vocabulary boost.