Extreme poverty and lack of the basic necessities of life. It represents the most severe form of economic hardship, where people lack food, shelter, and other essentials.
From Latin 'destituere,' meaning 'to abandon' or 'to leave destitute' (de- 'away' + statuere 'to place' or 'to establish'). The word suggests being abandoned or left without the established foundations of life.
Think of 'de-' (away from) + 'statuere' (to establish) - destitution means you've been taken away from everything established or stable! You're left without any of life's basic establishments like food and shelter.
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