devastavit

Meanings

1. Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by an executor or administrator; devastation.
2. In full, writ of devastavit: a writ issued against an executor or administrator claiming compensation for such misapplication of assets.

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin dēvastāvit (“he has wasted”), from dēvastāre, from dēvastō (“to devastate, lay waste”), from de- + vastāre (from vastō (“to devastate, lay waste, ravage”), from vastus (“deserted, wasted”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂st- (“empty; wasted”)).