ruinous, a.
(ˈruːɪnəs)
Forms: 4–6 ruynouse (5 ruynowse), 5–6 ruynous (5 roynows, 6 Sc. rwynus); 5 ruynose, 5–6 ruinose; 6 ruinus, 6–7 -ouse, 6– ruinous; Sc. 6 rewyn-, rewinus (-is).
[ad. F. ruineux, -euse (OF. also ruyneux, = Sp. and Pg. ruinoso, It. rovinoso, ruinoso), or L. ruīnōs-us: see ruin n. and -ous.]
1. a. Falling or fallen into ruin; decayed, dilapidated, broken down.
| 1382 Wyclif Ezek. xxxvi. 33, Y..shal make citees for to be enhabitid, and shal repareyle ruynouse thingis. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 217 Whiche towne was ruinose and nye to Athenes. 1467–8 Rolls of Parlt. V. 591/2 Two ruynouse Tenementes, sette in the parissh of Seint Benett. 1543–4 Act 35 Hen. VIII, c. 4 The chiefe lorde..of whom suche..decayed and ruinous houses be holden. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 9 b, Some part of it, being ruinous, I built after my fancie. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 154 The much raine enforced us to flie for shelter vnto a ruinous chappell. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 5 The Town..is very ruinous, nothing left entire, save the Market, and exchange. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. i. 214 The same authority proves Cesaria to have been erected on the ruinous Foundations of the most ancient Jol. 1796 Morse Amer. Geogr. II. 686 The palace of the Thuilleries, an old and ruinous place. 1859 Tennyson Marr. Geraint 462 [He] Built that new fort..And keeps me in this ruinous castle here. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. iii. 27 The weather had broken up the mountains into ruinous heaps. |
| fig. c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 252, I feele myn herte brotel and ruynous. 1661 Boyle Style of Script. (1675) 138 As long as we continue in these ruinous cottages of clay. |
| Comb. 1848 tr. Hoffmeister's Trav. Ceylon xi. 403 Cold, naked, ruinous-looking rocks. |
† b. Almost obliterated.
Obs.—1| 1624 Quarles Sion's Elegies To Reader, Some ruinous Accents, here and there discouered, makes them imagin, they writ some things in verse. |
2. Brought to, sunk into, ruin or decay.
rare.
| 1587 Collingwood in Border Papers (1894) I. 259 The pitefull complaynt..of this ruinose and waysted cuntre. 1605 Camden Rem., Epitaphs 31 The valerous vpholder of the ruinous state of Britaine against the Saxons. 1607 Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 465 Is yon'd despis'd and ruinous man my Lord? 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. i. v. 32 The Roman Empire now grown Ruinous, could not repair it's out-Rooms. |
3. Bringing or tending to bring ruin; disastrous, destructive, pernicious. Also
transf., excessively expensive.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 20 b, All y⊇ worlde (as saynt Austyn sayth) is ruynous and bytter falsenes. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. ii. 123 Machinations, hollownesse, treacherie, and all ruinous disorders follow vs disquietly to our Graues. 1667 Milton P.L. vi. 216 So..together rush'd Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage. 1736 Butler Anal. ii. v. Wks. 1874 I. 209 Provision might be made..for preventing those ruinous consequences. 1784 Cowper Task iv. 460 'Tis quenchless thirst Of ruinous ebriety that prompts His ev'ry action. 1817 J. Scott Paris Revisit. (1819) 59 It was the ruinous imposts levied by these Sovereigns that did the most harm to the Flemish cities. 1842 J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 251 Any attempts to raise its price by artificial means..would be ruinous to the wool trade. 1874 Green Short Hist. vi. §2. 275 The ruinous issue of the great struggle with France roused England to a burst of fury. 1897 A. Beardsley Let. 27–28 Feb. (1970) 260 If the hotel turns out too ruinous, and our expenditure in these matters could not be controlled, then we will decide for lodgings. |
4. Pertaining to a fall or crash.
rare—1.
| 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 921 Nor was his eare less peal'd With noises loud and ruinous..then when Bellona storms. |