interj. [ Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See Hold, v. t., and Fast, a. ] (Naut.) Cease; stop; stay. “Avast heaving.” Totten. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ Cf. F. dévaster. See Devastate. ] To devastate. [ Obs. ] Bolingbroke. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
Whole countries . . . were devastated. Macaulay.
adj. same as desolated.
adj.
n. [ Cf. F. dévastation. ]
Even now the devastation is begun,
And half the business of destruction done. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. ] One who, or that which, devastates. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ L., he has wasted. ] (Law) Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or an administrator. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Devastated; laid waste. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A genus of mallows characterized by red and yellow flowers often placed in other genera.
a. [ L. oliva olive: cf. F. olivâtre. ] Of the color of the olive; tawny. Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. a chemical substance (
a.
The empty, vast, and wandering air. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Through the vast and boundless deep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A waste region; boundless space; immensity. “The watery vast.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]
Michael bid sound
The archangel trumpet. Through the vast of heaven
It sounded. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. vastatio, fr. vastare to lay waste, fr. vastus empty, waste. ] A laying waste; waste; depopulation; devastation. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. See Wastel. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. OF. vastité, L. vastitas. ] Vastness; immensity. [ Obs. ] “All the world's vastidity.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. vastitudo. ]
n. [ L. vastitas. ] Vastness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
The huge vastity of the world. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. To a vast extent or degree; very greatly; immensely. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The quality or state of being vast. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ From Vast. ] Vast; immense. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]