Demolish \De*mol"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demolished; p. pr.
& vb. n. Demolishing.] [F. d['e]molir, fr. L. demoliri, p.
p. demolitus; de- + moliri to set a thing in motion, to work,
construct, from moles a huge mass or structure. See Mole a
mound, and Finish.]
To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to
pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a
wall.
[1913 Webster]
I expected the fabric of my book would long since have
been demolished, and laid even with the ground.
--Tillotson.
Syn: To Demolish, Overturn, Destroy, Dismantle,
Raze. That is overturned or overthrown which had stood
upright; that is destroyed whose component parts are
scattered; that is demolished which had formed a mass or
structure; that is dismantled which is stripped of its
covering, as a vessel of its sails, or a fortress of its
bastions, etc.; that is razed which is brought down
smooth, and level to the ground. An ancient pillar is
overturned or overthrown as the result of decay; a city
is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies; a monument,
the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real
or imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be
dismantled from motives of prudence, in order to render
it defenseless; a city may be razed by way of
punishment, and its ruins become a memorial of
vengeance.
[1913 Webster]
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