I. ˈrü-ən, -ˌin; ˈrün noun
Etymology: Middle English ruine, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruina, from ruere to rush headlong, fall, collapse
Date: 12th century
1.
a. archaic : a falling down : collapse
from age to age…the crash of ruin fitfully resounds — William Wordsworth
b. : physical, moral, economic, or social collapse
2.
a. : the state of being ruined — archaic except in plural
the city lay in ruin s
b. : the remains of something destroyed — usually used in plural
the ruin s of an ancient temple
the ruin s of his life
3. : a cause of destruction
4.
a. : the action of destroying, laying waste, or wrecking
b. : damage , injury
5. : a ruined building, person, or object
• ru·in·ate ˈrü-ə-ˌnāt, -nət adjective
• ruinate -ˌnāt transitive verb
II. verb
Date: 1585
transitive verb
1. : to reduce to ruins : devastate
2.
a. : to damage irreparably
b. : bankrupt , impoverish
ruin ed by stock speculation
3. : to subject to frustration, failure, or disaster
will ruin your chances of promotion
intransitive verb
: to become ruined
• ru·in·er noun