destruct

v. t. [ L. destructus, p. p. of destruere. See Destroy. ] To destroy. [ Obs. ] Mede. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. destructibilité. ] The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. destructibilis. ] Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being destructible. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. destructio: cf. F. destruction. See Destroy. ] 1. The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught; subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction. Esth. ix. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Destruction of venerable establishment. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated. [ 1913 Webster ]

This town came to destruction. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou castedst them down into destruction. Ps. lxxiii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The destruction that wasteth at noonday. Ps. xci. 6.

Syn. -- Demolition; subversion; overthrow; desolation; extirpation; extinction; devastation; downfall; extermination; havoc; ruin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who delights in destroying that which is valuable; one whose principles and influence tend to destroy existing institutions; a destructive. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) One who believes in the final destruction or complete annihilation of the wicked; -- called also annihilationist. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif. ] Causing destruction; tending to bring about ruin, death, or devastation; ruinous; fatal; productive of serious evil; mischievous; pernicious; -- often with of or to; as, intemperance is destructive of health; evil examples are destructive to the morals of youth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Time's destructive power. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Destructive distillation. See Distillation. --
Destructive sorties fld>(Logic), a process of reasoning which involves the denial of the first of a series of dependent propositions as a consequence of the denial of the last; a species of reductio ad absurdum. Whately.

Syn. -- Mortal; deadly; poisonous; fatal; ruinous; malignant; baleful; pernicious; mischievous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a destructive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]