destruction English · revision 5702

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la destructio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈstrʌk.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English destruccioun, [[bor|fro|destruction]] and directly [[bor|la|dēstrūctiō|t=a pulling down]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) a noun of action from the past participle of [[m|la|dēstruere|t=to tear down, demolish]] (see [[destroy]]), literally “to un-build”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|dē-|t=un-, down]] and [[m|la|struere|t=to pile, build]],^(Etymonline) from PIE *streu-, an extension of the root [[ine-pro|*stere-|t=to spread]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ruin: about 1300 in Barnhart and Etymonline; the state of being destroyed is from about 1314 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Laying waste and havoc are from about 1330, and the demolition of a building from 1340.^(OED 1989) A cause or means of destruction, as in ''drink was his destruction'', is from the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1526 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the killing of great numbers of people or animals from 1526.^(OED 1989) ''Destructible'' is from 1755,^(Barnhart 1988) and the back-formation ''destruct'' from 1957, first in military jargon, as in a missile's ''self-destruct'' mechanism.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – ruin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1314 – the state of being destroyed.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – demolition.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1526 – slaughter; a cause of ruin.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1755 – ''destructible''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1957 – ''destruct''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[destroy|alt=destroying]] something, or the state of being destroyed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A cause or means of destroying; [[ruin]]: ''gambling was his destruction''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[destructionist]]

+ * [[nondestruction]]

+ * [[mutual assured destruction]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[destroy]]

+ * [[destructive]]

+ * [[construct]]

+ * [[structure]]

+ * [[instruct]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}