De*stroy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Destroying.]
[OE. destroien, destruien,
destrien, OF. destruire, F. détruire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to pile up, build. See Structure.] 1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to
separate virulently
into its constituent parts; to break up the
structure and organic existence of; to demolish.
But ye shall
destroy their
altars, break their images,
and cut down their groves.
Ex. xxxiv. 13. 2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation.
Jer. xii. 17.
3. To put
an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to
kill.
If
him by force he can
destroy, or, worse,
By some false guile pervert.
Milton. Syn. -- To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate; extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish.
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