Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Ruin
Ru′in
,Noun.
[OE.
ruine
, F. ruine
, fr. L. ruina
, fr. ruere, rutum, to fall with violence, to rush or tumble down.] 1.
The act of falling or tumbling down; fall.
[Obs.]
“His ruin startled the other steeds.” Chapman.
2.
Such a change of anything as destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use; destruction; overthrow;
“Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!” as, the
. ruin
of a ship or an army; the ruin
of a constitution or a government; the ruin
of health or hopesGray.
3.
That which is fallen down and become worthless from injury or decay;
as, his mind is a
; especially, in the plural, the remains of a destroyed, dilapidated, or desolate house, fortress, city, or the like. ruin
The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall,
And one promiscuous ruin cover all;
Nor, after length of years, a stone betray
The place where once the very
And one promiscuous ruin cover all;
Nor, after length of years, a stone betray
The place where once the very
ruins
lay. Addison.
The labor of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the
ruins
of an old and vicious character. Buckminster.
4.
The state of being dcayed, or of having become ruined or worthless;
as, to be in
. ruins
; to go to ruin
5.
That which promotes injury, decay, or destruction.
The errors of young men are the
ruin
of business. Bacon.
Syn. – Destruction; downfall; perdition; fall; overthrow; subversion; defeat; bane; pest; mischief.
Ru′in
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Ruined
;p. pr. & vb. n.
Ruining
.] To bring to ruin; to cause to fall to pieces and decay; to make to perish; to bring to destruction; to bring to poverty or bankruptcy; to impair seriously; to damage essentially; to overthrow.
this mortal house I’ll
ruin
. Shakespeare
By thee raised, I
ruin
all my foes. Milton.
The eyes of other people are the eyes that
ruin
us. Franklin.
By the fireside there are old men seated,
Seeling
Seeling
ruined
cities in the ashes. Longfellow.
Ru′in
,Verb.
I.
To fall to ruins; to go to ruin; to become decayed or dilapidated; to perish.
[R.]
Though he his house of polished marble build,
Yet shall it
Yet shall it
ruin
like the moth's frail cell. Sandys.
If we are idle, and disturb the industrious in their business, we shall
ruin
the faster. Locke.
Webster 1828 Edition
Ruin
RU'IN
,Noun.
1.
Destruction; fall; overthrow; defeat; that change of any thing which destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use; as the ruin of a house; the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution of government; the ruin of health; the ruin of commerce; the ruin of public or private happiness; the ruin of a project.2.
Mischief; bane; that which destroys.The errors of young men are the ruin of business.
3.
Ruin, more generally ruins, the remains of a decayed or demolished city, house, fortress, or any work of art or other thing; as the ruins of Balbec, Palmyra or Persepolis; the ruins of a wall; a castle in ruins.The labor of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.
4.
The decayed or enfeebled remains of a natural object; as, the venerable old man presents a great mind in ruins.5.
The cause of destruction.They were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 2Chron. 28.
RU'IN
, v,t,1.
To demolish; to pull down, burn, or otherwise destroy; as, to ruin a city or an edifice.2.
To subvert; to destroy; as, to ruin a state or government.3.
To destroy; to bring to an end; as, to ruin commerce or manufactures.4.
To destroy in any manner; as, to ruin health or happiness; to ruin reputation.5.
To counteract; to defeat; as, to ruin a plan or project.6.
To deprive of felicity or fortune.By thee rais'd I ruin all my foes.
Grace with a nod, and ruin with a frown.
7.
To impoverish; as, to be ruined by speculation.The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us.
8.
To bring to everlasting misery; as, to ruin the soul.RU'IN
, v.i.1.
To fall into ruins.2.
To run to ruin; to fall into decay or be dilapidated.Though he his house of polish'd marble build, yet shall it ruin like the moth's frail cell.
3.
To be reduced; to be brought to poverty or misery.If we are idle, and disturb the industrious in their business, we shall ruin the faster.
[Note. This intransitive use of the verb is now unusual.]