[erad.i.cate] vt -cat.ed ; -cat.ing [L eradicatus, pp. of eradicare, fr. e- + radic-, radix root--more at root] (1578) 1: to pull up by the roots
2: to do away with as completely as if by pulling up by the roots "programs to ~ illiteracy" syn see exterminate -- erad.i.ca.ble adj -- erad.i.ca.tion n -- erad.i.ca .tor n