destruction etymology

Etymology:

  • from Old French destruction (c. 12th century), derivative of destruire ("to destroy")
  • ultimately from Latin destruere (past participle destructus), meaning "to pull down, demolish"
  • from de- ("down, away") + struere ("to build," from the Proto-Indo-European root ster-, "to spread out, scatter")

Meaning and Origin:

Destruction refers to the act of destroying or the state of being destroyed. It implies a process of tearing down, demolishing, or bringing something to ruin. The word destruction has its roots in the Latin verb destruere, which means "to pull down," "demolish," or "destroy." This verb, in turn, is derived from the prefix de- (meaning "down" or "away") and the verb struere (meaning "to build"). Thus, destruction essentially means the undoing or reversal of construction.

The notion of destruction has been an integral part of human history and mythology. From the destruction of Carthage by the Romans to the sacking of Rome by the Visigoths, history is replete with examples of the devastating effects of destruction. In mythology, gods and heroes are often depicted as destroyers of evil and chaos, while monsters and villains are seen as agents of destruction.

In contemporary usage, destruction can refer to various forms of devastation, including the physical destruction of buildings, infrastructure, or the environment, as well as the destruction of social fabrics, identities, or relationships. The concept of destruction is often associated with negative emotions such as grief, anger, and despair, but it can also be seen as a necessary force for progress and renewal.

destruction relate terms

  • destruct

    Etymology Destruct derives from the Latin destruere which means to pull down demo

  • destruction

    Etymology from Old French destruction c 12th century derivative of destruire to d

  • consternate

    Etymology Ultimately from Latin consternare meaning to throw to the ground or to

  • consternation

    Etymology The word consternation originated from the Latin word consternare which m

  • construct

    Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It examines how words evolve ov

  • construction

    Etymology The word construction derives from the Latin word construere which means

  • destroy

    Etymology Old French destruire Latin destruere Dis apart struere to build Me

  • destruction

    Etymology from Old French destruction c 12th century derivative of destruire to d

  • industry

    Etymology The word industry is derived from the Latin word industria which means d

  • instruct

    Etymology Latin instruere to construct build equip Indo European root ster

  • instruction

    Etymology The word instruction comes from the Latin word instructio which means a b

  • instrument

    Etymology The word instrument comes from the Latin word instrumentum which means t

  • obstruct

    Etymology The word obstruct comes from the Latin word obstruere which means to bloc

  • obstruction

    Etymology The word obstruction comes from the Latin word obstruere meaning to bloc

  • perestroika

    Etymology Russian перестройка perestroika literally restructuring Mea

  • prostrate

    Etymology The word prostrate comes from the Latin word prostratus the past particip

  • sternum

    Etymology Latin sternum Ancient Greek στέρνον stérnon meaning chest or

  • sternocleidomastoid

    Etymology Latin sterno from sternum breastbone cleido from clavis collarbone

  • strain

    Etymology Old French estreindre Latin stringere Proto Indo European strenk

  • stratagem

    Etymology Latin stratēgēma from Greek στρατήγημα stratēgēma from σ

  • strategy

    Etymology The word strategy comes from the Greek word strategia which means the a

  • strath

    Etymology The word strath is derived from the Old Gaelic word srath which means a

  • strato

    Etymology The word strato is derived from the Greek word στρωμα stroma meani

  • stratocracy

    Etymology Greek prefix strato army kratos power rule Meaning A government in

  • stratography

    Etymology The word stratigraphy is derived from the Greek words στρἆτον str

  • stratosphere

    Etymology stratosphere comes from the Greek words strato layer and sphaira spher

  • stratum

    Etymology The word stratum comes from the Latin word stratum which means something

  • stratus

    Etymology The word stratus is derived from the Latin word strātus meaning spread o

  • straw

    Etymology The word straw is derived from the Old English word strēaw which is relat

  • stray

    Etymology Stray derives from Middle English straien meaning to wander or to stra

  • street

    Street Etymology Street etymology refers to the informal folk explanation of the origin

  • strew

    Etymology Middle English strowen from Old English streowian Proto Germanic strauia

  • stroma

    Etymology The word stroma comes from the Greek word στρῶμα strōma meaning

  • structure

    Structure Etymology Latin structura meaning a building construction or arrangeme

  • substrate

    Etymology Latin substratum Sub under stratum layer Meaning The base o

  • substratum

    Etymology and Meaning The word substratum is derived from the Latin words sub meanin

  • substructure

    Etymology The word substructure is derived from two Latin words Sub meaning under

  • demolition

    Etymology The word demolition comes from the Latin word demolitio which means a tea

  • devastation

    Etymology From Old French devastation from Late Latin devastatio from the verb devast

  • perdition

    Etymology Late Latin perditio destruction ruin from the verb perdere to destroy

  • decimation

    Etymology From Latin decimare to tithe from decimus tenth Meaning Origina

  • perish

    Etymology Old French perir Latin perire from per meaning completely ire mean

  • ruination

    Etymology and Meaning The word ruination is derived from the Latin word ruina meanin

  • spoliation

    Etymology Latin spoliare to rob plunder Meaning Spoliation refers to the inte

  • medication

    Etymology The word medication comes from the Latin word medicatio which means a he