DESTROYING
Etymology
Verb
destroying
present participle of destroy
Source: Wiktionary
DESTROY
De*stroy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Destroying.] Etym: [OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF.
destruire, F. détruire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to
pile up, build. See Structure.]
1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its
constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence
of; to demolish.
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down
their groves. Ex. xxxiv. 13.
2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to
consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. Jer. xii. 17.
3. To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, By some false guile
pervert. Milton.
Syn.
– To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw
down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate;
extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition