forlorns
plural of forlorn
Source: Wiktionary
For*lorn", a. Etym: [OE., p.p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleĆ³san (p.p. forloren); pref. for- + leĆ³san (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. fƶrlora, 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 Etym: [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. verloren 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
5 November 2024
(verb) draw out a discussion or process in order to gain time; āThe speaker temporized in order to delay the voteā
Coffee dates back to the 9th century. Goat herders in Ethiopia noticed their goats seem to be ādancingā after eating berries from a particular shrub. They reported it to the local monastery, and a monk made a drink out of it. The monk found out he felt energized and kept him awake at night. Thatās how the first coffee drink was born.
