Destroy \De*stroy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.]

[OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF. destruire, F. d['e]truire, 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 Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)