raze
UK[reɪz]US[reɪz]
v
to completely destroy a building, town, etc. so that nothing is left
v
to remove something such as a problem, feeling, or memory from your mind
Etymology
the word 'raze' originates from the latin verb 'radere', meaning 'to scrape, shave, or erase'. it was adopted into old french as 'raser', carrying the sense of shaving or leveling something to the ground. entering middle english with this form, its meaning evolved from the physical act of scraping or shaving to specifically denote the total demolition of structures, leaving a smooth, level surface. this semantic shift from a general action to a specific, destructive outcome illustrates how the core concept of removal or erasure was concretely applied to buildings and settlements.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it is derived from the latin verb 'radere' meaning 'to scrape, shave, erase'. the english form 'raze' entered the language via old french 'raser'.
Examples
the old factory was razed to make way for a new shopping complex.
the city council voted to raze the condemned buildings for safety reasons.
he tried to raze all thoughts of the incident from his memory.