destitute
UK[ˈdestɪtjuːt]US[ˈdestətuːt]
adj
without money, food, a home, or possessions
adj
completely lacking in a specified quality or aspect
Morpheme Breakdown
de
stitute
de
away, down
stitute
to stand, place
Etymology
the word 'destitute' originates from the latin past participle 'destitutus', meaning 'forsaken, abandoned'. this is formed from the prefix 'de-', indicating a reversal or removal, and 'statuere', meaning 'to set up or place'. the literal sense is of being 'placed away' or 'set down', leading to the state of being forsaken. over time, this evolved from a general sense of abandonment to specifically denote being deprived of the necessities of life or being completely lacking in something.
Analysis
Structure: de (away, down) + stitute (to stand, place)
the prefix 'de-' is from latin, meaning 'away from, down, off'. the root 'stitute' is from the latin verb 'statuere', meaning 'to set up, to stand, to place'.
Examples
the war left many families destitute and homeless.
he was found destitute on the streets of the city.
her argument is destitute of any logical foundation.