De*mol"ish (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Demolished (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Demolishing.] [F. démolir, fr. L.
demoliri, p. p. demolitus; de- + moliri
to set a thing in motion, to work, construct, from moles a
huge mass or structure. See Mole a mound, and Finish.]
To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to
pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a
wall.
I expected the fabric of my book would long since have
been demolished, and laid even with the ground.
Tillotson.
Syn. -- To Demolish, Overturn,
Destroy, Dismantle, Raze. That is
overturned or overthrown which had stood upright; that
is destroyed whose component parts are scattered; that is
demolished which had formed a mass or structure; that is
dismantled which is stripped of its covering, as a vessel of
its sails, or a fortress of its bastions, etc.; that is razed
which is brought down smooth, and level to the ground. An ancient
pillar is overturned or overthrown as the result of
decay; a city is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies; a
monument, the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real or
imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be
dismantled from motives of prudence, in order to render it
defenseless; a city may be razed by way of punishment, and its
ruins become a memorial of vengeance.
