distruere

Distruere is a Latin verb meaning to scatter, lay waste, or destroy. In classical Latin it commonly describes dismantling physical structures, overturning order, or destroying a city or army, and it can also be used metaphorically to signify disruption of plans or systems.

Etymology and forms: The verb is formed from dis- “apart” and struere “to build, to arrange,” conveying the sense of pulling something apart. It belongs to the third conjugation. The present active infinitive is distruere; principal parts are distruo, distruere, distruxi, distructum. The present active indicative forms include distruo, distruis, distruit, distruimus, distruitis, distruunt. The imperfect is distruebam (and related forms), the perfect is distruxi, and the supine is distructum. The passive uses the corresponding forms, with the participle distructus.

Usage: In Latin texts, distruere governs a direct object in the accusative that is to be destroyed or dismantled, e.g., distruere moenia “to destroy the walls.” The verb can carry concrete senses (ruin of cities, fortifications, or armies) or figurative senses (disruption of order, plans, or institutions). Its negated or extended uses often appear in narrative prose and military or political context.

Modern status: Distruere is primarily of historical and philological interest today. It is studied in the context of Latin grammar, vocabulary, and classical literature, and appears in dictionaries and linguistic discussions of third-conjugation verbs.

See also: struere, dis- prefix, Latin verb conjugation.