destitute
Meaning: Extremely poor and lacking the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, and clothing. Also used with 'of' to mean entirely without a particular quality.
Destitute is stronger than 'poor' or 'impoverished,' implying a state of complete material deprivation. In British social policy, it has a near-legal status, describing people who have no means of support whatsoever. The noun 'destitution' appears frequently in reports on homelessness, refugee crises, and poverty. The phrase 'destitute of' (meaning 'completely lacking') is more literary — 'destitute of hope.'
Examples
- The charity provides emergency shelter for destitute families with nowhere else to turn. 该慈善机构为走投无路的赤贫家庭提供紧急住所。La organización benéfica proporciona alojamiento de emergencia a familias indigentes que no tienen adónde ir.その慈善団体は、他に行き場のない極貧家庭に緊急シェルターを提供している。그 자선단체는 달리 갈 곳이 없는 극빈 가정에 긴급 숙소를 제공하고 있다.
- Thousands of refugees arrived at the border destitute, having lost everything in the conflict. 数千名难民在冲突中失去一切后,身无分文地抵达边境。Miles de refugiados llegaron a la frontera en la indigencia, habiendo perdido todo en el conflicto.紛争ですべてを失い、何千人もの難民が一文無しの状態で国境に到着した。분쟁으로 모든 것을 잃은 수천 명의 난민이 빈털터리 상태로 국경에 도착했다.
- The investigation revealed that the company had left its workers destitute by failing to pay wages for months. 调查显示,该公司因数月未支付工资,使其工人陷入了赤贫境地。La investigación reveló que la empresa había dejado a sus trabajadores en la indigencia al no pagar los salarios durante meses.調査の結果、その企業は数か月にわたる賃金未払いにより労働者を極貧状態に追い込んでいたことが判明した。조사 결과, 해당 기업이 수개월간 임금을 지급하지 않아 근로자들을 극빈 상태로 내몬 것으로 밝혀졌다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: social policy, journalism, charity
Tone: sympathetic
Origin & History
From Latin destitutus (abandoned, forsaken), past participle of destituere (to abandon, to leave standing), from de- (away) + statuere (to set up, to place). Entered English in the 14th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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