destroy

Where does the word "destroy" come from? It comes from Latin destruere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Destroy’s story begins in Latin: destruere meant “to unbuild, to tear down.” To unbuild, to tear down, from de- (down) and struere (to build). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as destruire. Carried into French for tearing down or ruining something. It reached English by 1200s as destroy. Settled as the English word for ruining or demolishing something completely. Today, destroy means to ruin or demolish something completely, ending its existence.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient destruere "to unbuild, to tear down", to unbuild, to tear down, from de- (down) and struere (to build).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval destruire "to tear down, to ruin", carried into French for tearing down or ruining something.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s destroy "to ruin or demolish something completely", settled as the English word for ruining or demolishing something completely.