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A forlorn hope

Forlorn \For*lorn"\, a. [OE., p. p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forle['o]san (p. p. forloren); pref. for- + le['o]san (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. f["o]rlora, 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.

Usage examples of "a forlorn hope".

To go on this ship in a forlorn hope of bringing a destiny back to Earth.

It is a forlorn hope at the best, and not much the forlorner for being delayed till dark.

So with the feverish energy of one leading a forlorn hope, I began to pace the streets if haply I might see her face shine upon me from the crowd of passers by.