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extermine. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
extermine, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
extermine in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
extermine you have here. The definition of the word
extermine will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
extermine, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From French exterminer, from Latin extermino.
Verb
extermine (third-person singular simple present extermines, present participle extermining, simple past and past participle extermined)
- (transitive, obsolete or nonstandard) To exterminate (someone or something); to destroy.
c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :VVherever ſorrovv is, relief vvould be. / If you do ſorrovv at my grief in love, / By giving love your ſorrovv and my grief / VVere both extermined.
1874, Charles Kingsley, “Superstition. A Lecture Delivered at the Royal Institution, London.”, in Health and Education, London: W. Isbister & Co. , →OCLC, page 234:Without the instinct of self-preservation, which causes the sea-anemone to contract its tentacles, or the fish to dash into its hover, species would be extermined wholesale by involuntary suicide.
References
French
Pronunciation
Verb
extermine
- inflection of exterminer:
- first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
- second-person singular imperative
Portuguese
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: ex‧ter‧mi‧ne
Verb
extermine
- inflection of exterminar:
- first/third-person singular present subjunctive
- third-person singular imperative
Spanish
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /eɡsteɾˈmine/
- Rhymes: -ine
- Syllabification: ex‧ter‧mi‧ne
Verb
extermine
- inflection of exterminar:
- first/third-person singular present subjunctive
- third-person singular imperative