forlorn hope

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forlorn hope

1. An arduous or nearly hopeless undertaking.

2. An advance guard of troops sent on a hazardous mission.

[By folk etymology from Dutch verloren hoop, advance guard : verloren, past participle of verliezen, to lose; see leu- in Indo-European roots + hoop, troop.]

forlorn hope

1. a hopeless or desperate enterprise

2. a faint hope

3. (Military) Obsolete a group of soldiers assigned to an extremely dangerous duty

[C16 (in the obsolete sense): changed (by folk etymology) from Dutch verloren hoop lost troop, from verloren, past participle of verliezen to lose + hoop troop (literally: heap)]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun

forlorn hope - a hopeless or desperate enterprise

endeavor, endeavour, enterprise - a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness); "he had doubts about the whole enterprise"

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age desperation endeavor endeavour enterprise forlorn			"There is one chance," she answered, "a sort of forlorn hope, but you might try it. The Malefactor by Oppenheim, E. Phillips View in context There was but one forlorn hope for us, and I took it. The Gods of Mars by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context The feel of the long spear shaft in his hand and the sight of the tree beyond the lion gave the lad an idea--a preposterous idea--a ridiculous, forlorn hope of an idea; but there was no time now to weigh chances--there was but a single chance, and that was the thorn tree. The Son Of Tarzan by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context			Fork-tailed gull Fork-tailed kite forkball Forkbeard forked Forked counsel forked lightning Forkerve forkful Forkiness forking Forkless forklift Forktail forky Forlaft Forlay Forleave Forlend Forlese Forlet Forlì Forlie Forlore forlorn forlorn hope forlornly Forlornness Forlye form form bubbles form class form criticism form division form drag form family form feed form genus form genus Rhizoctinia form letter form lines form master form mistress form of address form of government form word form-only formal formal attire Formal cause formal criticism			forks up forks up forks up Forktail forktails forky Forl Forlaft Forlay Forleave Forlend Forlese Forlet Forli Forli Forli Forlì Forlì Forlì, Emilia Forlì, Melozzo da Forlie Forlock Forlock Forlock FORLOGCMD Forlon hope Forlon hope Forlore forlorn forlorn forlorn hope forlornly forlornly forlornness forlornness Forlye form form form form form form Form (concrete) Form (concrete) Form (music) Form (shape) Form (shape) Form (shape) Form (shape) Form 10 K Form 10-K Form 10-Q Form 1000 Form 1023 Form 1024 Form 1028 Form 1040 Form 1040 (PR) Form 1040 (PR) (Anejo H-PR) Form 1040 (Schedule C) Form 1040 (Schedule D-1)

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