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rack and ruin. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
rack and ruin, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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rack and ruin you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
1599, variant of wrack and ruin.
Pronunciation
Noun
rack and ruin (uncountable)
- (idiomatic, proscribed) Complete destruction.
1599, Thomas Fowler, The history of Corpus Christi College:In the mean season the College shall goe to rack and ruin.
Usage notes
Etymologically incorrect, due to confusion of rack (“torture, suffer”) with wrack (“destroy”). Correct is wrack and ruin, which is accordingly preferred by style guides; however, both are common and well-established.
References