toppled
Meaning
to become unsteady and fall down
to remove a government or person in authority from power
Structure
Usage
the old statue was toppled during the storm.
the scandal finally toppled the corrupt regime.
several books toppled from the overloaded shelf.
Etymology
the word 'toppled' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'topple'. the core verb 'topple' emerged in the mid-16th century, its precise origin obscure but most convincingly linked to the word 'top'. it is thought to be a frequentative verb, a form that expresses repeated or intensified action, suggesting the sense of something rocking back and forth on its top or summit before falling. this literal sense of falling from an upright position evolved naturally into the metaphorical sense of a sudden collapse from a position of power or authority, leading to its modern political usage.
Analysis
'topple' is a verb of uncertain origin, likely a frequentative form related to 'top', implying a repeated or sudden tipping action from the top. the suffix '-d' is from old english, indicating the past tense and past participle form.