— ruinously , adv. — ruinousness , n.
/rooh"euh neuhs/ , adj.
1. bringing or tending to bring ruin; destructive; disastrous: a ruinous war.
2. fallen into ruin; dilapidated: a ruinous house.
3. consisting of ruins: a ruinous city from antiquity.
[ 1350-1400; ME ruynouse ruinosus, equiv. to ruin ( a ) RUIN + -osus -OUS ]
Syn. 1. calamitous, ravaging, devastating, catastrophic.