Détruire
Example: Les guerres peuvent détruire des villes entières rapidement.
Definition
"Détruire" means to cause the complete ruin or destruction of something, making it unusable or nonexistent. It often refers to breaking down or demolishing objects, structures, or even abstract concepts like peace or trust, as in historical contexts where wars can rapidly destroy entire cities.
Etymology
The word "détruire" comes from the Latin "destruere," which means 'to tear down' or 'to demolish.' It combines the prefix 'de-' meaning 'down' or 'away' and 'struere,' meaning 'to build.' So, ironically, "détruire" literally means to un-build or undo a structure. Did you know this word has been used in French since the Middle Ages to describe the act of destruction?
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"Détruire" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 208 commonly used words.
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