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Destroy
DESTROYIn general, to ruin completely; may include a taking. To ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of a thing; to demolish; to injure or mutilate beyond possibility of use; to nullify. As used in policies of insurance, in leases, and in maritime law, and under various statutes, this term is often applied to an act that renders the subject useless for its intended purpose, though it does not literally demolish or annihilate it. In relation to wills, contracts, and other documents, the term destroy does not mean the annihilation of the instrument or its resolution into other forms of matter, but a destruction of its legal efficacy, which may be by cancellation, obliterating, tearing into fragments, and so on. |
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Cite this article
"Destroy." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Destroy." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701377.html "Destroy." West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437701377.html |
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destroy
de·stroy / diˈstroi/ • v. [tr.] put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it: the room had been destroyed by fire. ∎ completely ruin or spoil (something): she had destroyed his dreams. ∎ ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually: he has been determined to destroy her. ∎ defeat (someone) utterly: the Tigers destroyed the Padres in five games. ∎ (usu. be destroyed) kill (a sick, savage, or unwanted animal) by humane means: their terrier was destroyed after the attack. |
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"destroy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "destroy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-destroy.html "destroy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-destroy.html |
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destroy
destroy XIII. ME. destru(i)(e), destr(o)ie — OF. destruire (mod. détruire) :- Rom. *dēstrūgere, for L. dēstruere, f. DE- 6 + struere pile up.
Hence destroyer XIV. So destruction XIV. — (O)F. — L. destructive XV. — (O)F. — late L. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "destroy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "destroy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-destroy.html T. F. HOAD. "destroy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-destroy.html |
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destroy
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Cite this article
"destroy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "destroy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-destroy.html "destroy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-destroy.html |
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