ruin English · revision 6042

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1375|origins=la ruere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈruː.ɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ruyne, [[bor|fro|ruine]], a learned borrowing, and also directly [[bor|la|ruīna|t=collapse, a rushing down]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|ruere|t=to rush, fall, collapse]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) which Barnhart calls of obscure origin and Etymonline derives from PIE [[ine-pro|*reuə-|t=to smash, knock down]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb is [[bor|frm|ruiner]], or Medieval Latin [[m|la-med|ruīnāre]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of giving way and falling down, of a building or other structure: about 1375.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A ruinous condition, and figuratively degradation or downfall, are about 1380 in Chaucer's ''House of Fame'',^(Barnhart 1988) with the downfall of a person or society from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The remains of a building, ruins, are from 1454,^(OED 1989) and Barnhart has devastation and wreckage before 1420.^(Barnhart 1988) That which causes destruction (''drink was his ruin'') is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) the dishonour of a woman from the 1620s,^(Etymonline) and violent or complete destruction of anything from the 17th century.^(Etymonline) The verb meant to destroy or eradicate in 1581 in Sidney,^(Barnhart 1988) to reduce a place to ruins in the 1580s, and to inflict disaster on someone from the 1610s;^(Etymonline) to bring to financial ruin is from the 1650s.^(Etymonline) [[ruination|alt=Ruination]] is from 1664.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1375 – a falling down, a collapse.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – a state of ruin, in Chaucer.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1454 – ruins, remains.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1581 – the verb, to destroy, in Sidney.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1620s – dishonour of a woman.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – to bankrupt.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1664 – ruination.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Total destruction or [[decay]], physical, moral, social or financial.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that causes such destruction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(often ruins)'' The remains of a destroyed or decayed building or town.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Loss of wealth or position; [[bankruptcy]].^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To destroy completely or spoil beyond repair.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To reduce to poverty or bankruptcy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To deprive a woman of her [[chastity]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ruinable]]

+ * [[ruiner]]

+ * [[ruinate]]

+ * [[ruination]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ruinous]]

+ * [[rough]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Northumberland mining dialect a ruin was a part of a colliery where the roof had fallen in.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}