v.
1. intr. be destroyed; suffer death or ruin.
2 a intr. (esp. of rubber, a rubber object, etc.) lose its normal qualities; deteriorate, rot. b tr. cause to rot or deteriorate.
3 tr. (in passive) suffer from cold or exposure (we were perished standing outside).
Phrases and idioms:
perish the thought an exclamation of horror against an unwelcome idea.
Derivatives:
perishless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF perir f. L perire pass away (as PER-, ire go)