Words / C2

f-uh-LORN/fəˈlɔːn/

Forlorn means pitifully lonely or abandoned, or (a forlorn hope) almost certain to fail: a forlorn figure, a forlorn attempt. Lonely and hopeless are everyday; bereft (already in the dictionary) is stripped of something. Do not call a well-staffed, quiet archive forlorn because it is not on Instagram.

Meaning

Appearing lonely, abandoned, and unhappy; also unlikely to succeed (a forlorn hope).

Examples

• “A forlorn “any questions?” at 21:40 is not consultation.”
• “Lonely is everyday. A forlorn hope is a doomed attempt (historical military flavour). Bereft of staff is the C2 cousin. Abandoned is physical. A silent room with a posted hour is a service, not a tragedy.”

Good to know

Pitifully abandoned; a hopeless attempt. Everyday: lonely / hopeless. Phrase: a forlorn hope. Quiet and open is not forlorn.

Near in meaning

lonely

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