pulverize

the word pulverize originates from the late latin verb 'pulverizare', which itself is derived from the latin noun 'pulvis', meaning 'dust' or 'powder'. the core morpheme 'pulver-' has been stable in meaning, directly referring to a fine, dry particulate substance. the suffix '-ize', a prolific verb-forming element borrowed from greek, adds the sense of 'to make into' or 'to treat with'. therefore, the literal construction 'to make into dust' provides a perfectly logical foundation for its modern meanings: the physical act of grinding into powder and the figurative sense of utterly demolishing or defeating something.

Structure: pulver (dust, powder) + ize (verb-forming suffix) pulver (from latin 'pulvis, pulveris', meaning 'dust, powder'), ize (from greek '-izein' via latin '-izare', a suffix forming verbs meaning 'to make, to become, to subject to')