Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or administrator; devastation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law, property
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
In full, writ of devastavit: a writ issued against an executor or administrator claiming compensation for such misapplication of assets.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: law, property
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Borrowed from Medieval Latin dēvastāvit (“he has wasted”), from dēvastāre, from dēvastō (“to devastate, lay waste”), from de- + vastāre (from vastō (“to devastate, lay waste, ravage”), from vastus (“deserted, wasted”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh2st- (“empty; wasted”)).
