— perishless , adj. — perishment , n.
/per"ish/ , v.i.
1. to die or be destroyed through violence, privation, etc.: to perish in an earthquake.
2. to pass away or disappear: an age of elegance that has forever perished.
3. to suffer destruction or ruin: His valuable paintings perished in the fire.
4. to suffer spiritual death: Save us, lest we perish.
5. perish the thought , may it never happen: used facetiously or as an afterthought of foreboding.
[ 1200-50; ME perissen periss-, long s. of perir perire to perish, lit., go through, spend fully, equiv. to per- PER- + ire to go ]
Syn. 1. expire. See die 1 . 2. wither, shrivel, rot, molder, vanish.
Ant. 2. appear.