devastar
Lemma Details
Translation: to devastate; to destroy; to ravage; to lay waste
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'devastare', from de- (completely) + vastare (to lay waste). Related to English 'devastate' and 'vast'
Commonality: 50%
Guessability: 90%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of the English word 'devastate' - they're exactly the same in meaning
- De-vast-ar: something that makes an area 'vast' and empty through destruction
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Often used in contexts of natural disasters, war, or environmental destruction
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'devastar' means to devastate/destroy, 'desbastar' means to rough-hew or trim down
Notes: The similarity is purely coincidental; they have different etymological roots
Mnemonic: 'Devastar' has one 'b', like in English 'devastate'; 'desbastar' has two 'b' sounds and means something completely different