/ ˈperɪʃ; NAmE / verb
1.
[ v ] ( formal or literary ) ( of people or animals ) to die, especially in a sudden violent way :
A family of four perished in the fire.
2.
[ v ] ( formal ) to be lost or destroyed :
Early buildings were made of wood and have perished.
3.
[ v , vn ] ( BrE ) if a material such as rubber perishes or is perished , it becomes damaged, weaker or full of holes
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IDIOMS
- perish the thought
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French periss- , lengthened stem of perir , from Latin perire pass away, from per- through, completely + ire go.