Forlorn

For*lorn" (?), a. [OE., p. p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleósan (p. p. forloren); pref. for- + leósan (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. förlora, Dan. forloren, Goth. fraliusan to lose. See For-, and Lorn, a., Lose, v. t.] 1. Deserted; abandoned; lost.

Of fortune and of hope at once forlorn.
Spenser.

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children.
Shak.

2. Destitute; helpless; in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable; almost hopeless; desperate.

For here forlorn and lost I tread.
Goldsmith.

The condition of the besieged in the mean time was forlorn in the extreme.
Prescott.

She cherished the forlorn hope that he was still living.
Thomson.

A forlorn hope [D. verloren hoop, prop., a lost band or troop; verloren, p. p. of verliezen to lose + hoop band; akin to E. heap. See For-, and Heap.] (Mil.), a body of men (called in F. enfants perdus, in G. verlornen posten) selected, usually from volunteers, to attempt a breach, scale the wall of a fortress, or perform other extraordinarily perilous service; also, a desperate case or enterprise.

Syn. -- Destitute, lost; abandoned; forsaken; solitary; helpless; friendless; hopeless; abject; wretched; miserable; pitiable.

For*lorn", n. 1. A lost, forsaken, or solitary person.

Forced to live in Scotland a forlorn.
Shak.

2. A forlorn hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]

Our forlorn of horse marched within a mile of the enemy.
Oliver Cromvell.