demolished
UK[dɪˈmɒlɪʃt]US[dɪˈmɑːlɪʃt]
v
To completely destroy a building or other structure
v
To defeat an opponent or argument decisively
v
To eat all of something quickly and completely (informal)
Morpheme Breakdown
de
mol
ished
de
down, away
mol
mass, structure
ished
verb suffix, past tense
Etymology
The word 'demolished' originates from the Latin verb demoliri, meaning "to tear down." This verb itself is a compound of the prefix de- (indicating reversal or removal) and the root moles (signifying a massive structure or bulk). The literal sense was to dismantle or pull down a large, solid construction. Over time, the meaning broadened from the physical destruction of buildings to encompass the figurative dismantling of arguments, plans, or opponents. The past participle form 'demolished' entered English via Middle French demoliss-, carrying with it the core concept of reducing something substantial to nothing.
Analysis
Structure: de (down, away) + mol (mass, structure) + ished (verb suffix, past tense)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down, away, off, reversal."
mol: From Latin moles, meaning "a mass, a large structure, a barrier."
ished: A combination of the verb-forming suffix -ish (from Old French -iss-, ultimately from Latin -isc-) and the past tense/participle suffix -ed.
Examples
The old factory was demolished to make way for a new park.
The lawyer's brilliant cross-examination demolished the witness's testimony.
He was so hungry he demolished the entire pizza by himself.