DEVASTATE

Dev″as‐tate (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n. Devastating.] [[L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate; de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.]] To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate. Whole countries . . . were devastated. Macaulay. Syn. — To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage.