What is "desolates"

Usage examples of "desolates".

I'm fairly sober, sober enough to avoid stepping on the drunks and desolates who litter the night-time streets, or tripping over the wreckage that's still piled up after the riot.

That the putrified weeds have poisoned the air, and the poisoned air causes the yellow fever, that desolates these beautiful countries.

I perceive that the terrible cry which desolates the land is caused by a wicked serpent who crawls from his den on the eve of each Beltain searching for food.