Chapter 24

Des"i*tive (?), a. Final; serving to complete; conclusive. [Obs.] "Desitive propositions." I. Watts.

Des"i*tive, n. (Logic) A proposition relating to or expressing an end or conclusion. [Obs.] I. Watts.

Desk (?), n. [OE. deske, the same word as dish, disk. See Dish, and cf. Disk.] 1. A table, frame, or case, usually with sloping top, but often with flat top, for the use writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath.

2. A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the sermon is preached; also (esp. in the United States), a pulpit. Hence, used symbolically for "the clerical profession."

Desk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Desking.] To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.

Desk"work` (?), n. Work done at a desk, as by a clerk or writer. Tennyson.

Des"man (ds"man), n. [Cf. Sw. desman musk.] (Zoöl.) An amphibious, insectivorous mammal found in Russia (Myogale moschata). It is allied to the moles, but is called muskrat by some English writers. [Written also dæsman.]

{ Des"mid (?), Des*mid"i*an (?), } n. [Gr. desmo`s chain + e'i^dos form.] (Bot.) A microscopic plant of the family Desmidiæ, a group of unicellular algæ in which the species have a greenish color, and the cells generally appear as if they consisted of two coalescing halves.

Des"mine (?), n. [Gr. de`smh, desmo`s, bundle, fr. dei^n to bind.] (Min.) Same as Stilbite. It commonly occurs in bundles or tufts of crystals.

||Des`mo*bac*te"ri*a (ds`m*bk*t"r*), n. pl. [Gr. desmo`s bond + E. bacteria.] See Microbacteria.

Des"mo*dont (-dnt), n. [Gr. desmo`s bond + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, tooth.] (Zoöl.) A member of a group of South American blood-sucking bats, of the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.

Des*mog"na*thous (?), a. [Gr. desmo`s bond + gna`qos jaw.] (Zoöl.) Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; -- applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other kinds.

Des"moid (?), a. [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -oid.] (Anat.) Resembling, or having the characteristics of, a ligament; ligamentous.

Des*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -logy.] The science which treats of the ligaments. [R.]

||Des`mo*my*a"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; bond + &?; muscle.] (Zoöl.) The division of Tunicata which includes the Salpæ. See Salpa.

||Des"o*late (?), a. [L. desolatus, p. p. of desolare to leave alone, forsake; de- + solare to make lonely, solus alone. See Sole, a.] 1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house.

I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

Jer. ix. 11.

And the silvery marish flowers that throng The desolate creeks and pools among.

Tennyson.

2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as, desolate altars.

3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless.

Have mercy upon, for I am desolate.

Ps. xxv. 16.

Voice of the poor and desolate.

Keble.

4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [Obs.] Chaucer.

5. Destitute of; lacking in. [Obs.]

I were right now of tales desolate.

Chaucer.

Syn. -- Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.

Des"o*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desolated; p. pr. & vb. n. Desolating.] 1. To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as, the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.

2. To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city.

Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war.

Sparks.

Des"o*late*ly (?), adv. In a desolate manner.

Des"o*late*ness, n. The state of being desolate.

Des"o*la`ter (?), n. One who, or that which, desolates or lays waste. Mede.

Des`o*la"tion (?), n. [F. désolation, L. desolatio.] 1. The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants; depopulation.

Unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan. ix. 26.

2. The state of being desolated or laid waste; ruin; solitariness; destitution; gloominess.

You would have sold your king to slaughter, . . . And his whole kingdom into desolation.

Shak.

3. A place or country wasted and forsaken.

How is Babylon become a desolation!

Jer. l. 23.

Syn. -- Waste; ruin; destruction; havoc; devastation; ravage; sadness; destitution; melancholy; gloom; gloominess.

Des"o*la`tor (?), n. [L.] Same as Desolater. Byron.

Des"o*la*to*ry (?), a. [L. desolatorius.] Causing desolation. [R.] Bp. Hall.

De`so*phis"ti*cate (?), v. t. To clear from sophism or error. [R.] Hare.

Des`ox*al"ic (?), a. [F. pref. des- from + E. oxalic.] (Chem.) Made or derived from oxalic acid; as, desoxalic acid.

De*spair" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despairing.] [OE. despeiren, dispeiren, OF. desperer, fr. L. desperare; de- + sperare to hope; akin to spes hope, and perh. to spatium space, E. space, speed; cf. OF. espeir hope, F. espoir. Cf. Prosper, Desperate.] To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation; -- often with of.

We despaired even of life.

2 Cor. i. 8.

Never despair of God's blessings here.

Wake.

Syn. -- See Despond.

De*spair", v. t. 1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of. [Obs.]

I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.

Milton.

2. To cause to despair. [Obs.] Sir W. Williams.

De*spair", n. [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.] 1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.

We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken with despair.

Keble.

Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of remorse and despair.

Macaulay.

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2. That which is despaired of. "The mere despair of surgery he cures." Shak.

Syn. -- Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.

De*spair"er (?), n. One who despairs.

De*spair"ful (?), a. Hopeless. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*spair"ing, a. Feeling or expressing despair; hopeless. -- De*spair"ing*ly, adv. -- De*spair"ing*ness, n.

De*spar"ple (?), v. t. & i. [OF. desparpeillier.] To scatter; to disparkle. [Obs.] Mandeville.

De*spatch" (?), n. & v. Same as Dispatch.

De`spe*cif"i*cate (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intens.) + specificate.] To discriminate; to separate according to specific signification or qualities; to specificate; to desynonymize. [R.]

Inaptitude and ineptitude have been usefully despecificated.

Fitzed. Hall.

De*spec`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. Discrimination.

De*spect" (?), n. [L. despectus, fr. despicere. See Despite, n.] Contempt. [R.] Coleridge.

De*spec"tion (?), n. [L. despectio.] A looking down; a despising. [R.] W. Montagu.

De*speed" (?), v. t. To send hastily. [Obs.]

Despeeded certain of their crew.

Speed.

De*spend" (?), v. t. To spend; to squander. See Dispend. [Obs.]

Some noble men in Spain can despend £50,000.

Howell.

Des`per*a"do (?), n.; pl. Desperadoes (#). [OSp. desperado, p. p. of desperar, fr. L. desperare. See Desperate.] A reckless, furious man; a person urged by furious passions, and regardless of consequence; a wild ruffian.

Des"per*ate (?), a. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.] 1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [Obs.]

I am desperate of obtaining her.

Shak.

2. Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.

3. Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort. "Desperate expedients." Macaulay.

4. Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality.

A desperate offendress against nature.

Shak.

The most desperate of reprobates.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic.

Des"per*ate, n. One desperate or hopeless. [Obs.]

Des"per*ate*ly, adv. In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly; extremely; as, the troops fought desperately.

She fell desperately in love with him.

Addison.

Des"per*ate*ness n. Desperation; virulence.

Des`per*a"tion (?), n. [L. desperatio: cf. OF. desperation.] 1. The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.

This desperation of success chills all our industry.

Hammond.

2. A state of despair, or utter hopeless; abandonment of hope; extreme recklessness; reckless fury.

In the desperation of the moment, the officers even tried to cut their way through with their swords.

W. Irving.

Des`pi*ca*bil"i*ty (?), n. Despicableness. [R.] Carlyle.

Des"pi*ca*ble (?), a. [L. despicabilis, fr. despicari to despise; akin to despicere. See Despise.] Fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; as, a despicable man; despicable company; a despicable gift.

Syn. -- Contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; pitiful; paltry; sordid; low; base. See Contemptible.

Des"pi*ca*ble*ness, n. The quality of being despicable; meanness; vileness; worthlessness.

Des"pi*ca*bly (?), adv. In a despicable or mean manner; contemptibly; as, despicably stingy.

Des*pi"cien*cy (?), n. [L. despicientia. See Despise.] A looking down; despection. [Obs.]

De*spis"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. despisable.] Despicable; contemptible. [R.]

De*spis"al (?), n. A despising; contempt. [R.]

A despisal of religion.

South.

De*spise" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despising.] [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Despicable, Despite.] To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of.

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov. i. 7.

Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

Jowett (Thucyd. ).

Syn. -- To contemn; scorn; disdain; slight; undervalue. See Contemn.

De*spis"ed*ness, n. The state of being despised.

De*spise"ment (?), n. A despising. [R.] Holland.

De*spis"er (?), n. One who despises; a contemner; a scorner.

De*spis"ing*ly, adv. Contemptuously.

De*spite" (?), n. [OF. despit, F. dépit, fr. L. despectus contempt, fr. despicere. See Despise, and cf. Spite, Despect.] 1. Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate.

With all thy despite against the land of Israel.

Ezek. xxv. 6.

2. An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt.

A despite done against the Most High.

Milton.

In despite, in defiance of another's power or inclination. -- In despite of, in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite. "Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving. -- In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you. [Obs.]

De*spite" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.] [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See Despite, n.] To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

De*spite", prep. In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as, despite his prejudices.

Syn. -- See Notwithstanding.

De*spite"ful (?), a. [See Despite, and cf. Spiteful.] Full of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate; malicious. -- De*spite"ful*ly, adv. -- De*spite"ful*ness, n.

Haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters.

Rom. i. 30.

Pray for them which despitefully use you.

Matt. v. 44.

Let us examine him with despitefulness and fortune.

Book of Wisdom ii. 19.

Des*pit"e*ous (?), a. [OE. despitous, OF. despiteus, fr. despit; affected in form by E. piteous. See Despite.] Feeling or showing despite; malicious; angry to excess; cruel; contemptuous. [Obs.] "Despiteous reproaches." Holland.

Des*pit"e*ous*ly, adv. Despitefully. [Obs.]

De*spit"ous (?), a. Despiteous; very angry; cruel. [Obs.]

He was to sinful man not despitous.

Chaucer.

- De*spit"ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]

De*spoil" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despoiled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despoiling.] [OF. despoiller, F. dépouiller, L. despoliare, despoliatum; de- + spoliare to strip, rob, spolium spoil, booty. Cf. Spoil, Despoliation.] 1. To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob; to pillage; to strip; to divest; -- usually followed by of.

The clothed earth is then bare, Despoiled is the summer fair.

Gower.

A law which restored to them an immense domain of which they had been despoiled.

Macaulay.

Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss.

Milton.

Syn. -- To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.

De*spoil", n. Spoil. [Obs.] Wolsey.

De*spoil"er (?), n. One who despoils.

De*spoil"ment (?), n. Despoliation. [R.]

De*spo`li*a"tion (?), n. [L. despoliatio. See Despoil.] A stripping or plundering; spoliation. Bailey.

De*spond" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n. Desponding.] [L. despondre, desponsum, to promise away, promise in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spondre to promise solemnly. See Sponsor.] To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed; to take an unhopeful view.

I should despair, or at least despond.

Scott's Letters.

Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first difficulty.

Locke.

We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its eyes hitherward, and be assured that the foundations of our national power still stand strong.

D. Webster.

Syn. -- Despond, Dispair. Despair implies a total loss of hope, which despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to violent action.

De*spond" n. Despondency. [Obs.]

The slough of despond.

Bunyan.

De*spond"ence (?), n. Despondency.

The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness [and] saunter about with looks of despondence.

Goldsmith.

De*spond"en*cy (?), n. The state of desponding; loss of hope and cessation of effort; discouragement; depression or dejection of the mind.

The unhappy prince seemed, during some days, to be sunk in despondency.

Macaulay.

De*spond"ent (?), a. [L. despondens, -entis, p. pr. of despond&?;re.] Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner. -- De*spond"ent*ly, adv.

De*spond"er (?), n. One who desponds.

De*spond"ing*ly, adv. In a desponding manner.

De*spon"sage (?), n. [From L. desponsus, p. p. See Despond.] Betrothal. [Obs.]

Ethelbert . . . went peaceably to King Offa for desponsage of Athilrid, his daughter.

Foxe.

De*spon"sate (?), v. t. [L. desponsatus, p. p. of desponsare, intens. of despondere to betroth. See Despond.] To betroth. [Obs.] Johnson.

Des`pon*sa"tion (?), n. [L. desponsatio: cf. OF. desponsation.] A betrothing; betrothal. [Obs.]

For all this desponsation of her . . . she had not set one step toward the consummation of her marriage.

Jer. Taylor.

De*spon"so*ry (?), n.; pl. Desponsories (&?;). A written pledge of marriage. Clarendon.

De*sport" (?), v. t. & i. See Disport.

Des"pot (?), n. [F. despote, LL. despotus, fr. Gr. despo`ths master, lord, the second part of which is akin to po`sis husband, and L. potens. See Potent.] 1. A master; a lord; especially, an absolute or irresponsible ruler or sovereign.

Irresponsible power in human hands so naturally leads to it, that cruelty has become associated with despot and tyrant.

C. J. Smith.

2. One who rules regardless of a constitution or laws; a tyrant.

Des"po*tat (?), n. [Cf. F. despotat.] The station or government of a despot; also, the domain of a despot. Freeman.

{ Des*pot"ic (?), Des*pot"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. despotique.] Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute in power; possessing and abusing unlimited power; evincing despotism; tyrannical; arbitrary. -- Des*pot"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Des*pot"ic*al*ness, n.

Des"po*tism (?), n. [Cf. F. despotisme.] 1. The power, spirit, or principles of a despot; absolute control over others; tyrannical sway; tyranny. "The despotism of vice." Byron.

2. A government which is directed by a despot; a despotic monarchy; absolutism; autocracy.

Despotism . . . is the only form of government which may with safety to itself neglect the education of its infant poor.

Bp. Horsley.

Des"po*tist, n. A supporter of despotism. [R.]

Des"po*tize (?), v. t. To act the despot.

De*spread" (?), v. t. & i. See Dispread.

Des"pu*mate (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Despumated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Despumating (?).] [L. despumatus, p. p. of despumare to despume; de- + spumare to foam, froth, spuma froth, scum.] To throw off impurities in spume; to work off in foam or scum; to foam.

Des`pu*ma"tion (?), n. [L. despumatio: cf. F. despumation.] The act of throwing up froth or scum; separation of the scum or impurities from liquids; scumming; clarification.

De*spume" (?), v. t. [Cf. F. despumer. See Despumate.] To free from spume or scum. [Obs.]

If honey be despumed.

Holland.

Des"qua*mate (?), v. i. [L. desquamatus, p. p. of desquamare to scale off; de- + squama scale.] (Med.) To peel off in the form of scales; to scale off, as the skin in certain diseases.

Des`qua*ma"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. desquamation.] (Med.) The separation or shedding of the cuticle or epidermis in the form of flakes or scales; exfoliation, as of bones.

{ De*squam"a*tive (?), De*squam"a*to*ry (?), } a. Of, pertaining to, or attended with, desquamation.

De*squam"a*to*ry, n. (Surg.) An instrument formerly used in removing the laminæ of exfoliated bones.

Dess (?), n. Dais. [Obs.]

Des*sert" (?), n. [F., fr. desservir to remove from table, to clear the table; pref. des- (L. dis-) + servir to serve, to serve at table. See Serve.] A service of pastry, fruits, or sweetmeats, at the close of a feast or entertainment; pastry, fruits, etc., forming the last course at dinner.

"An 't please your honor," quoth the peasant, "This same dessert is not so pleasant."

Pope.

Dessert spoon, a spoon used in eating dessert; a spoon intermediate in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. -- Dessert-spoonful, n., pl. Dessert- spoonfuls, as much as a dessert spoon will hold, usually reckoned at about two and a half fluid drams.

Des*tem"per (?), n. [Cf. F. détrempe, fr. détremper.] A kind of painting. See Distemper.

Des"tin (?), n. [Cf. F. destin.] Destiny. [Obs.] Marston.

Des"ti*na*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. destinable.] Determined by destiny; fated. Chaucer.

Des"ti*na*bly, adv. In a destinable manner.

Des"ti*nal (?), a. Determined by destiny; fated. [Obs.] "The order destinal." Chaucer.

Des"ti*nate (?), a. [L. destinatus, p. p. of destinare. See Destine.] Destined. [Obs.] "Destinate to hell." Foxe.

Des"ti*nate (?), v. t. To destine, design, or choose. [Obs.] "That name that God . . . did destinate." Udall.

Des`ti*na"tion (?), n. [L. destinatio determination: cf. F. destination destination.] 1. The act of destining or appointing.

2. Purpose for which anything is destined; predetermined end, object, or use; ultimate design.

3. The place set for the end of a journey, or to which something is sent; place or point aimed at.

Syn. -- Appointment; design; purpose; intention; destiny; lot; fate; end.

Des"tine (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Destining.] [F. destiner, L. destinare; de + the root of stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Obstinate.] To determine the future condition or application of; to set apart by design for a future use or purpose; to fix, as by destiny or by an authoritative decree; to doom; to ordain or preordain; to appoint; -- often with the remoter object preceded by to or for.

We are decreed, Reserved, and destined to eternal woe.

Milton.

Till the loathsome opposite Of all my heart had destined, did obtain.

Tennyson.

Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way.

Longfellow.

Syn. -- To design; mark out; determine; allot; choose; intend; devote; consecrate; doom.

Des"ti*nist (?), n. A believer in destiny; a fatalist. [R.]

Des"ti*ny (?), n.; pl. Destinies (#). [OE. destinee, destene, F. destinée, from destiner. See Destine.] 1. That to which any person or thing is destined; predetermined state; condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate; lot; doom.

Thither he Will come to know his destiny.

Shak.

No man of woman born, Coward or brave, can shun his destiny.

Bryant.

2. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; a resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future, whether in general or of an individual.

But who can turn the stream of destiny?

Spenser.

Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny, for it is destiny.

Longfellow.

The Destinies (Anc. Myth.), the three Parcæ, or Fates; the supposed powers which preside over human life, and determine its circumstances and duration.

Marked by the Destinies to be avoided.

Shak.

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De*stit"u*ent (?; 135), a. [L. destituens, p. pr. of destituere.] Deficient; wanting; as, a destituent condition. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Des"ti*tute (?), a. [L. destitutus, p. p. of destituere to set away, leave alone, forsake; de + statuere to set. See Statute.] 1. Forsaken; not having in possession (something necessary, or desirable); deficient; lacking; devoid; -- often followed by of.

In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Ps. cxli. 8.

Totally destitute of all shadow of influence.

Burke.

2. Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of want; needy; without possessions or resources; very poor.

They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.

Heb. xi. 37.

Des"ti*tute, v. t. 1. To leave destitute; to forsake; to abandon. [Obs.]

To forsake or destitute a plantation.

Bacon.

2. To make destitute; to cause to be in want; to deprive; -- followed by of. [Obs.]

Destituted of all honor and livings.

Holinshed.

3. To disappoint. [Obs.]

When his expectation is destituted.

Fotherby.

Des"ti*tute*ly, adv. In destitution.

Des"ti*tute*ness, n. Destitution. [R.] Ash.

Des`ti*tu"tion (?), n. [L. destitutio a forsaking.] The state of being deprived of anything; the state or condition of being destitute, needy, or without resources; deficiency; lack; extreme poverty; utter want; as, the inundation caused general destitution.

{ Des*trer" (?), Dex"trer (?) }, n. [OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his right hand. Skeat.] A war horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*strie" (?), v. t. To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*stroy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Destroying.] [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.

De*stroy"a*ble (?), a. Destructible. [R.]

Plants . . . scarcely destroyable by the weather.

Derham.

De*stroy"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. destruior.] One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.