destructive English · revision 15223

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1490|origins=la struō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈstɹʌktɪv/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|destructif]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[la-lat|dēstrūctīvus]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|dēstrūctus]], the past participle of [[m|la|dēstruō|t=to tear down, demolish]] (see [[destroy]]).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Causing destruction, tending to destroy: 1490 (Caxton) in the OED, the late 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it meant a destructive agent or force from 1640, and a person who would overthrow existing institutions from 1832.^(OED 1989) In politics and philosophy, opposed to constructive or conservative, it is from 1834;^(OED 1989) ''destructive distillation'' in chemistry is from 1831.^(OED 1989) Criticism meant to discredit without positive suggestions is called destructive in modern dictionaries.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1490 – causing destruction.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1640 – a destructive agent.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1831 – destructive distillation.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1832 – a revolutionary (noun).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Causing great damage or [[destruction]]; [[ruinous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Meant to disprove or discredit rather than to help: ''destructive criticism''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[destructively]]

+ * [[destructiveness]]

+ * [[destructivity]]

+ * [[interdestructive]]

+ * [[overdestructive]]

+ * [[semidestructive]]

+ * [[nondestructive]]

+ * [[self-destructive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[destroy]]

+ * [[destruction]]

+ * [[construct]]

+ * [[structure]]

+ * [[instructive]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}