Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - forlorn

 adjective  Etymology: Middle English forloren, from Old English, past participle of forleosan to lose, from for- + leosan to lose — more at lose  Date: before 12th century  1.  a. bereft, forsaken left quite ~ of hope  b. sad and lonely because of isolation or desertion ; desolate a ~ landscape  2. being in poor condition ; miserable, wretched ~ tumbledown buildings  3. nearly hopeless a ~ attempt  Synonyms: see alone  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun