perish
[ per-ish ]
/ ˈpɛr ɪʃ /
verb (used without object)
to die or be destroyed through violence, privation, etc.: to perish in an earthquake.
to pass away or disappear: an age of elegance that has forever perished.
to suffer destruction or ruin: His valuable paintings perished in the fire.
to suffer spiritual death: Save us, lest we perish.
Idioms for perish
perish the thought,
may it never happen: used facetiously or as an afterthought of foreboding.
Origin of perish
1200–50; Middle English
perissen < Old French
periss-, long stem of
perir < Latin
perīre to perish, literally, go through, spend fully, equivalent to
per-
per- +
īre to go
synonym study for perish
1. See
die1.
OTHER WORDS FROM perish
per·ish·less, adjective per·ish·ment, noun un·per·ished, adjectiveWords nearby perish
British Dictionary definitions for perish the thought
perish
/ (ˈpɛrɪʃ) /
verb (intr)
to be destroyed or die, esp in an untimely way
(tr sometimes followed by with or from)
to cause to suffer
we were perished with cold
to rot
leather perishes if exposed to bad weather
perish the thought!
may it never be or happen thus
noun
do a perish Australian informal
to die or come near to dying of thirst or starvation
Word Origin for perish
C13: from Old French
périr, from Latin
perīre to pass away entirely, from
per- (away) +
īre to go
Idioms and Phrases with perish the thought (1 of 2)
perish the thought
Don't even think of it. This expression is used as a wish that what was just mentioned will never happen. For example, He's going to give another speech? Perish the thought! This phrase appeared in Handel's oratorio Joshua (1748; text by Thomas Morell): “It never shall be said that our allies in vain implor'd our aid. Perish the thought!” Also see god forbid.
Idioms and Phrases with perish the thought (2 of 2)
perish