extinguish
UK[ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ]US[ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ]
v
To cause a fire or light to stop burning or shining.
v
To put an end to or destroy something.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
stingu
ish
ex
out
stingu
to quench
ish
Etymology
The word "extinguish" has a direct lineage from the Latin verb exstinguere, which is a compound of the intensive prefix ex- ("out, thoroughly") and the root stinguere ("to quench, to extinguish"). The Latin stinguere itself is thought to be related to the Greek stizein ("to prick"), suggesting an original sense of "pricking out" a flame. This literal meaning of putting out a fire evolved in English to encompass the broader, more abstract sense of putting an end to or annihilating anything, such as hopes, rights, or a species.
Analysis
Structure: ex + stingu + ish
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out" or "thoroughly".
- stingu: Latin origin, from the root stinguere, meaning "to quench" or "to extinguish".
- ish: English suffix, from Old French -iss-, forming verbs.
Examples
Firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the warehouse blaze.
The new regulations may extinguish any chance of economic recovery in the region.
Please remember to extinguish all candles before leaving the room.