Destituted

/ˈdɛstɪˌtjutɪd/ adjective

Definition

Reduced to extreme poverty or lack of resources; made destitute.

Etymology

Past participle of the verb 'destitute' (rarely used as a verb), from Latin 'destituere.' While 'destitute' is commonly an adjective meaning 'poor,' 'destituted' emphasizes the *action* of becoming destitute.

Kelly Says

English can be tricky—'destitute' is usually an adjective, but 'destituted' as a past participle suggests the *process* of impoverishment, which lawyers and social scientists occasionally use to describe active harm.

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