Part 3016

<hw>De*stroy"a*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Destructible.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>Plants . . . scarcely <b>destroyable</b> by the weather. <i>Derham.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Destroyer</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*stroy"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OF. <ets>destruior</ets>.]</ety> <def>One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.</def>

<h1>Destruct</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struct"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>destructus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>destruere</ets>. See <er>Destroy</er>.]</ety> <def>To destroy.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Mede.</i>

<h1>Destructibility</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struc`ti*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>destructibilit\'82</ets>.]</ety> <def>The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness.</def>

<h1>Destructible</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struc"ti*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>destructibilis</ets>.]</ety> <def>Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed.</def>

<h1>Destructibleness</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struc"ti*ble*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being destructible.</def>

<h1>Destruction</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struc"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>destructio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>destruction</ets>. See <er>Destroy</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught; subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation.</def>

<blockquote>The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and <b>destruction</b>. <i>Esth. ix. 5.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by <b>destruction</b> dwell in doubtful joy. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote><b>Destruction</b> of venerable establishment. <i>Hallam.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated.</def>

<blockquote>This town came to <b>destruction</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Thou castedst them down into <b>destruction</b>. <i>Ps. lxxiii. 18.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>destruction</b> that wasteth at noonday. <i>Ps. xci. 6.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Demolition; subversion; overthrow; desolation; extirpation; extinction; devastation; downfall; extermination; havoc; ruin.</syn>

<h1>Destructionist</h1> <Xpage=400>

<hw>De*struc"tion*ist</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>One who delights in destroying that which is valuable; one whose principles and influence tend to destroy existing institutions; a destructive.</def>