Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “demolish” come from?

demolish (English) comes from Middle French demoliss-, from Middle French demolir, from Latin demolior, from Latin dē-, from Latin dē, from Latin post, from Latin poste, from Proto-Italic posti — afterwards, post; by, at.

demolish (English): To destroy; To defeat or consume utterly

Definitions

  1. To destroy; To defeat or consume utterly

Ancestry of “demolish”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchdemoliss-—
2Middle FrenchdemolirAlternative form of desmolir; to destroy”, “to...
3LatindemoliorI demolish, tear down
4Latindē-—
5Latindē—
6Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
7Latinposteablative singular of postis
8Proto-Italicposti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “demolish”

  • demolishment
  • demolisher
  • demolishable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →