demolish, v.
(dɪˈmɒlɪʃ)
[a. F. démoliss-, lengthened stem of démolir (1383) in Littré), ad. L. dēmōlīrī to throw down, demolish, destroy, f. de- I. 6 + mōlīrī to build, construct, erect, f. mōles mass, massive structure.]
1. trans. To destroy (a building or other structure) by violent disintegration of its fabric; to pull or throw down, pull to pieces, reduce to ruin.
| 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 285 The Chapell of Hakington..was quite and cleane demolished. 1606 Warner Alb. Eng. xiv. lxxxv. (1612) 353 Both twaine made hauock of their foes, demolishing their Forts. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. iii. 181 Christ did..demolish and breake downe that partition wall. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. I. xvi. 422 They completely demolished the remainder of the edifice. 1825 Macaulay Milton Ess. 1854 I. 11/1 The men who demolished the images in cathedrals have not always been able to demolish those which were enshrined in their minds. |
† b. To break down or ruin partially. Obs.
| 1645 Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 170 Behind this stands the great altar of Hercules, much demolished. 1656 Ibid. I. 331 A fair town, but now wretchedly demolished by the late siege. |
† c. intr. with passive sense. Obs. rare.
| 1609 Bible (Douay) Joel ii. 8 Through the windowes they shal fal and shal not demolish [Vulg. et non demolientur]. |
¶ Archaic const.: demolishing = a-demolishing, in demolition = being demolished: cf. building in build v. 7.
| 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2118/2 The House Gulicke lived in is demolishing. 1706 Ibid. No. 4199/3 The Castle of Nice is demolishing. |
2. fig. To destroy, make an end of.
| 1620 Venner Via Recta viii. 193 They lesse resist extrinsecall and intrinsecall causes that demolish their health. 1651 Baxter Inf. Bapt. 201 Demolishing the Church by division and contempt. 1735 Berkeley Def. Free-think. Math. §32 It is directly demolishing the very doctrine you would defend. 1878 Stewart & Tait Unseen Univ. vii. §214. 211 To demolish any so-called scientific objection that might be raised. 1882 Athenæum 23 Dec. 844 The author demolishes most of those fanciful etymologies. |
b. humorously. To consume, finish up.
| [1639 Massinger Unnat. Combat iii. i, As tall a trencher⁓man..As e'er demolished pye-fortification.] 1756 Foote Eng. fr. Paris i. Wks. 1799 I. 106 They proceed to demolish the substantials. 1879 Beerbohm Patagonia iii. 41 It is on record that he demolished the whole side of a young guanacho at one sitting. |
Hence deˈmolished ppl. a.
| 1623 Donne Encænia 34 That demolished Temple. 1742 Young Nt. Th. vii. 833 Beneath the lumber of demolish'd worlds. 1840 Thirlwall Greece VII. 347 On the site of the demolished theatre. |