perishn.
/ˈpɛrɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈpɛrɪʃ/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorated in condition [phrase] > on point of perishing
upon the perish1823
1823 W. Cobbett Rural Rides in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 13 Sept. 656 Everything seems upon the perish.
2. Australian colloquial.
a. to do a perish: to reach or be in a state of extreme privation; to suffer hardship; to die, esp. of thirst.
ΚΠ
1894 Argus (Melbourne) 28 Mar. 5/4 When a man or party has nearly died through want of water he is said to have ‘done a perish’.
1929 K. S. Prichard Coonardoo v. 60 But we near done a perish for water, You.
1953 D. Stivens Gambling Ghost 3 You'll do a perish, mate, and no mistake. You're two hundred miles as the crow flies from anywhere.
1984 Overlander Apr. 29 It must have been mighty reassuring for him to know he had that water to fall back on..even though he might have to do a ‘perish’ while covering the intervening distance.
b. A period or state of extreme privation, esp. a period of drought.
ΚΠ
1914 Bulletin (Sydney) 18 June 16/4 The sheep were still alive... Their six-day perish, with not one succumbing, must go close to a record.
1935 H. H. Finlayson Red Centre iii. 28 The constant struggle out of one ‘perish’ into another.
1964 D. Lockwood Up Track 52 Not that they ever stopped laughing, even at the height of the ‘perish’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
perishv.
/ˈpɛrɪʃ/, U.S. /ˈpɛrɪʃ/α. Middle English perijs (northern), Middle English peris (chiefly northern), Middle English perise (chiefly northern), Middle English perisse, Middle English perissi, Middle English perissy, Middle English perys (chiefly northern), Middle English peryss; Scottish pre-1700 peiris, pre-1700 pereis, pre-1700 pereise, pre-1700 peres, pre-1700 perice, pre-1700 peris, pre-1700 perise, pre-1700 periss, pre-1700 perisse, pre-1700 perisz, pre-1700 perreis, pre-1700 perreiss, pre-1700 perres, pre-1700 perris, pre-1700 perus, pre-1700 peryis, pre-1700 perys, pre-1700 peryse.
β. Middle English peresch, Middle English peresche, Middle English periche, Middle English perichis (transmission error), Middle English perichse, Middle English perisch, Middle English perische, Middle English perischi, Middle English perissch, Middle English perresh, Middle English perriche, Middle English perrisch, Middle English perrysh, Middle English perryssch, Middle English perych, Middle English perysche, Middle English peryssche, Middle English peyrede (past tense, transmission error), Middle English pirisch, Middle English–1500s peresh, Middle English–1500s perishe, Middle English–1500s perissche, Middle English–1500s perissh, Middle English–1500s perisshe, Middle English–1500s perysch, Middle English–1500s perysh, Middle English–1500s peryshe, Middle English–1500s perysshe, Middle English–1600s perrish, Middle English– perish, 1500s pearish, 1500s pearishe, 1500s peressh, 1500s periszshe; Scottish pre-1700 pereische, pre-1700 pereish, pre-1700 peresche, pre-1700 perisch, pre-1700 perische, pre-1700 perishe, pre-1700 perreche, pre-1700 perreisch, pre-1700 perreishe, pre-1700 perresh, pre-1700 perrisch, pre-1700 perrische, pre-1700 perych, pre-1700 perysch, pre-1700 perysche, pre-1700 1700s– perish.
γ. Middle English peersche, Middle English perce, Middle English perch, Middle English perche, Middle English perhid (past participle, transmission error), Middle English persch, Middle English persche, Middle English perse, Middle English persh, Middle English pershe, Middle English persi, Middle English perss, Middle English perssch, Middle English perssh, Middle English persshe, 1900s– persh (U.S. regional (southern)).
δ. Middle English paris (northern), Middle English parisch, Middle English parshe, Middle English parysche, Middle English paryssh, 1900s– parish (U.S. regional (southern) and Irish English); English regional (northern and north midlands) 1800s– parish, 1800s– parrish; Scottish pre-1700 pairisch, pre-1700 pareis, pre-1700 parich, pre-1700 paris, pre-1700 parisch, pre-1700 parische, pre-1700 parish, pre-1700 parishe, pre-1700 paroch, pre-1700 parreisch.
I. To suffer death, destruction, or damage.
1.
a. intransitive. Of a person, animal, or plant: to suffer a violent, sudden, or untimely death; to die; to be killed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > manner of death > die in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > die violently
perishc1275
to shed blood?1473
to die in one's shoes1694
to come to a sticky end1904
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > be destroyed, ruined, or come to an end
losec888
fallOE
forlesea1225
perishc1275
spilla1300
to go to wreche13..
to go to the gatec1330
to go to lostc1374
miscarryc1387
quenchc1390
to bring unto, to fall into, to go, put, or work to wrakea1400
mischieve?a1400
tinea1400
to go to the devilc1405
bursta1450
untwindc1460
to make shipwreck1526
to go to (the) pot1531
to go to wreck (and ruin)a1547
wrake1570
wracka1586
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
to lie in the dusta1591
mischief1598
to go (etc.) to rack (and ruin)1599
shipwreck1607
suffera1616
unravel1643
to fall off1684
tip (over) the perch1699
to do away with1769
to go to the dickens1833
collapse1838
to come (also go) a mucker1851
mucker1862
to go up1864
to go to squash1889
to go (to) stramash1910
to go for a burton1941
to meet one's Makera1978
society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > reprobation > suffer reprobation [verb (intransitive)]
losec888
leesec1175
perishc1275
to go to supper with the devil1529
damn1620
c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 219 (MED) Hise deciples hedde gret drede of þise tempeste..and seiden to him, lord, saue us, for we perisset.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 6936 Ȝif ich of eni gulti am..ich mote þoru þis fure Brenne bi neþe & perissy [v.rr. persi; a1400 Trin. Cambr. perischi].
c1450 (c1350) Alexander & Dindimus (Bodl.) (1929) 452 (MED) Þei þat sailen on þe see..In gret peril ben iput, and perichen ful ofte.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope v. viii The mooste parte of the corne..perysshed that same yere by cause of the grete rayne that felle.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Kings ix. 8 That all the house of Achab maye periszshe.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 20 In point thay war to parische.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron I. v. iii. f. 187v Fearing to bee deuoured (in the night time) by some wilde beast, choosing rather to let his Horsse perish, then himselfe.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 676 The common rout, That..Grow up and perish, as the summer flie. View more context for this quotation
1725 ‘C. Johnson’ Gen. Hist. Pyrates (ed. 3) Introd. 36 Captain Hornigold..was cast away upon Rocks, a great Way from Land, and perished.
1836 W. Irving Astoria III. 252 Who..lingered in the wilderness to perish by the hands of savages.
1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate I. i. 2 His son Charles was now dead,—had perished by his own hand.
1938 Amer. Home Jan. 63/1 Those alpines..; plants that all too often perish solely because of their solitary grandeur.
2002 N. Drury Dict. Esoteric 287/2 The three sea-nymphs hurled themselves into the sea and perished.
b. intransitive. (Only in present participle). To be coming gradually nearer death; to be suffering extremely (from cold or hunger) (frequently in hyperbolical use). Frequently with with. Cf. perishing adj. 2a.Cf. sense 12b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > be cold [verb (intransitive)] > be cold or have sensation of cold > perish with cold
freeze1390
starve1602
perish1750
bestormed1837
1750 Bible (Challoner) Job xxxi. 19 If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering.
1788 L. MacNally Critic upon Critic (ed. 2) iii. i. 64 You know how long I have been dangling after you, attending upon your convenience, perishing with cold in your hall.
1798 S. T. Coleridge Wanderings of Cain ii, in Poems 289 I must never die again, and yet I am perishing with thirst and hunger.
1861 C. Dickens Great Expectations I. iii. 39 When a man's alone on these flats, with a light head and a light stomach, perishing of cold and want, he hears nothin' all night, but guns firing, and voices calling.
1885 A. Edwardes Girton Girl III. i. 11 You have given me hot coffee when I was perishing with cold.
1930 W. S. Maugham Cakes & Ale viii. 96 Isn't it awful, the weather? You must be perishing.
2003 Observer (Nexis) 7 Dec. (Mag.) 82 I do recall spending many a winter's afternoon perishing with cold.
2. intransitive. To incur spiritual death; to suffer moral or spiritual ruin; to be damned.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degenerate [verb (intransitive)] > suffer moral or spiritual ruin
perishc1275
c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 220 (MED) Yef se deuel us wille a cumbri þurch senne..sigge we..lord, sauue us þet we ne perissi.
c1350 Athanasian Creed (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) 193 (MED) Þe which [faith] bot ȝif ichon kepe hole & nouȝt de-fouled, wyþ-outen drede he shal peris wyþ-outen ende [1548–9 Bk. Common Prayer without doubt he shal perishe euerlastingly].
c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 182 Anticrist worcheþ now misterie of wickidnes to hem þat parshen, for þei receyuen not charite þat þei myȝten be saued.
?c1450 (?a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 370 Ȝif þe gospel is hid, it is hid to hem þat perschen [c1384 Bible ( (Wycliffite, E.V.) ): 2 Cor. iv. 3 perischen], in þe whiche god of þis worlde haþ blyndid þe mynde of unfeiþful men.
1562 N. Winȝet Certain Tractates (1888) I. 6 He..sall require the blude oute of ȝour handis of the smallaste ane that sall perise throw ȝour negligence.
1611 Bible (King James) John iii. 15 That whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue eternall life. View more context for this quotation
1644 J. Milton Of Educ. 1 The reforming of Education..for the want whereof this nation perishes.
1781 W. Cowper Expostulation 95 When nations are to perish in their sins, 'Tis in the church the leprosy begins.
1782 J. Priestley Hist. Corruptions Christianity I. iii. 295 Jerom..thought that no christian would finally perish.
1856 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters IV. 69 Knowledge is good..yet man perished in seeking knowledge.
1885 E. Arnold Secret of Death 23 Thou Scorned'st to tread the path of wealth, wherein The foolish perish.
1953 K. M. Briggs Personnel of Fairyland Gloss. 212 Mermaids..are supposed to be very anxious to gain a human soul. Their lives are long, but when they die they perish utterly.
1989 D. Levertov Door in Hive ii. 47 Out of the stasis in which we perish, the sullen immobility to which the lead weight of our disbelief condemns us, only your rushing wind can lift us.
3. intransitive. Of a ship: to founder, to sink; to be shipwrecked.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > suffer shipwreck [verb (intransitive)] > sink
sinkOE
adrenchc1230
perishc1350
founder1600
to go to the bottom1812
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 63 (MED) Þe þrid part of þe shippes perissht [v.rr. perischiden, perescht].
a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) ix. 892 With sodeyn tempest assailed & dirknesse, His barge pershid bi great aduersite.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lii. 158 The shyppe..pereshyd, and all my company.
1589 R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 188 Through meere dissolute negligence shee [sc. a ship] perished on a sand.
1654 J. Lamont Diary (1830) 78 A passage boate..perished a litell without the beacon.
1662 J. Dauncey Eng. Lovers ii. xii. 153 It is rather to be supposed that the French ship perished in the vast Ocean.
1725 G. Burnet Hist. Own Time IV. v. 100 Their whole Fleet had perished, if their Admiral, Calembourg, had not ordered them to drop their Anchors.
1789 Trans. Soc. Arts (ed. 2) 1 222 That vessel perished..in Dunbar Bay, and..was thought to be sanded up.
1807 J. Barlow Columbiad (note) 388 The ship probably perished in the ice.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 570 Upon respondentia the lender must be paid his principal and interest, though the ship perish, provided the goods be safe.
1923 J. Masefield Let. from Pontus in Poems (1946) 803 Suppose the ship should perish in the harbour, Or I fall sick and be refused aboard?
1988 D. A. Thomas Compan. Royal Navy iii. 289/2 The surviving Allied warships of the battle of the Java Sea..all perished in a series of actions.
4. intransitive. Of an immaterial thing, esp. a belief, custom, or institution: to come to an end; to expire; to pass out of use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > be non-existent [verb (intransitive)] > end or cease to exist
tirec725
endOE
forfareOE
goc1175
fleec1200
to wend awayc1225
diea1240
to-melta1240
to pass awaya1325
flit1340
perishc1350
vanisha1375
decorre1377
cease1382
dispend1393
failc1400
overshakec1425
surcease1439
adrawc1450
fall1523
decease1538
define1562
fleet1576
expire1595
evanish1597
extinguish1599
extirp1606
disappear1623
evaporatea1631
trans-shift1648
annihilate1656
exolve1657
cancela1667
to pass off1699
to burn out, forth1832
spark1845
to die out1853
to come, go, etc. by the board1859
sputter1964
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xl. 5 (MED) He shalle dien, and his name shal peris.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1874) V. 281 (MED) Valentinianus themperour..dredenge Aecius..causede hym to be sleyne at Cartago, with whom the fortune of the Weste pereschede [a1387 J. Trevisa tr. fil doun; L. occubuit].
a1525 A. Cadiou tr. A. Chartier Porteous Noblenes in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1923) I. 175 He that has na honour..his loving perisis and gud name levis him.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §6. 15 For indeed heresies perish not with their authors. View more context for this quotation
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iii. vi. 224 Besides the greatest part of mixed Modes, being Actions, which perish in their Birth, are not capable of a lasting Duration as Substances.
1739 D. Hume Treat. Human Nature I. iv. 320 Let our first belief be never so strong, it must infallibly perish by passing thro' so many new examinations.
1763 J. Brown Diss. Poetry & Music v. 78 Bards of ancient Greece, whose Songs have perished in the Wreck of Time.
1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (1858) vi. 271 The Phœnician power which the Prophets denounced, has entirely perished.
1892 A. Bierce Tales of Soldiers & Civilians 131 The old belief in the malevolence of the dead body was lost from the creeds, and even perished from tradition.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xvii. 255 The joy went out of their lives, the hope seemed to perish as they became more and more mechanised.
1989 P. van der Merwe Origins Pop. Style x. 97 The survival in folk or popular music of matrices that have perished in ‘art’ music.
5.
a. intransitive. Of an object or substance: to decay, deteriorate, or rot; to fall into ruin or disrepair. Also: to be destroyed or devastated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > be decayed > decay
to-dreseOE
forbraidc1220
perisha1382
fret1486
to fall awayc1510
decay1511
pallc1560
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > be destroyed, ruined, or come to an end > of material things
perisha1382
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1969) Jer. xlviii. 8 Pershen shul valeis, & wastid shul ben wilde feldis.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John vi. 27 Worche ȝe not mete that perischith, but that dwellith in to euerlastinge lyf.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Mending of Life 108 (MED) Qwhy ȝernis þou with grete desire þingis þat sall perys?
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 76 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 258 Bot martha, þat was rycht wyse, wald nocht thole þare landis perice, bot bathe þar partis wysly steryt.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 36 The kingis of the vardil ar vntit with olie quhilk perisis.
1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. f. 19 His substance, which beeing in the manurance and handling of an ignorant, or ouerweener, dooth not only decrease, but perisheth.
1642 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (new ed.) 71 I beleeve that the whole frame of a beast doth perish, and is left in the same state after death, as before it was materialled unto life.
1762 G. G. Beekman Let. 25 Oct. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 421 Cheese they think and say is Lyable to Perish without giting wett.
1776 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall I. p. xlvii/1 (note) The Roman libraries have long since perished.
1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art ii. 120 Giotto's frescos at Assisi are perishing..for want of decent care.
1883 J. A. Symonds Shakspere's Predecessors (1900) vii. 197 They [sc. the plays] perished in thumbed MSS..before arriving at the honours of the press.
1939 Ann. Brit. School Athens 1935–6 36 2 In many places..the surface has perished to some extent.
1989 A. P. Dobson Sale of Goods & Consumer Credit (ed. 4) iv. 46 We have just considered the problem of who is to bear the loss when goods perish.
b. intransitive. Of rubber: to lose its characteristic elastic property and become brittle or sticky.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > be decayed > decay > specifically of rubber
perish1879
1879 T. Connolly in Soc. of Arts Artisan Rep. Universal Exhib. 1878 609 A sample of inch common vulcanised tube..had began to ‘perish’.
1884 Queen 29 Mar. (advt.) A flat elastic section (which, unlike rubber elastic, will not heat the person or perish in wear).
1910 Bradshaw's Railway Guide Apr. facing p. xv (advt.) Self-filling fountain pen... No rubber to perish.
1971 C. M. Blow Rubber Technol. & Manuf. ii. 36 Familiar to all is the liability of rubber to ‘perish’, to harden and crack or soften to a sticky residue.
1992 C. Wildwood Aromatherapy Massage with Essent. Oils (BNC) 6 Certain essential oils, cedarwood in particular, can cause rubber to perish into a sticky mess.
II. To destroy, kill, damage, etc. (originally and frequently in past participle with to be: see note in etymology).† 6. To destroy, put an end to, or do away with (an institution, practice, condition, faculty, etc.)† 9. To ruin morally; to damn, to bring to damnation.
a. transitive. In past participle with to be. = sense 4. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1325 Prologue (Corpus Cambr.) 20 in C. D'Evelyn & A. J. Mill S. Eng. Legendary (1956) 1 (MED) Oþer martirs ek..schadde hare blod for Cristendom, þat it yperissed nere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 22250 (MED) O rome Imparre, þe dignite Ne mai na wai al perist be.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 88 Woo be to þame qwhos..ȝeris with haste ar parischyd with-outen fruytt of charite.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll.) 999 In such maner entred the Sonne of God into the wombe of Maydyn Mary, whos virginite ne was perisshed ne hurte.
a1500 Gospel of Nicodemus (Harl. 149) (1974) 115 (MED) Alle thy joye ys peryssched for be-cause that thou dedyst hange Jhesu on the crosse.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 88 Saif vs, gude Lord, and succour send, For perysit is halynes.
1701 J. Prince Danmonii Orientales Illustres 506 There were several other Volumes of Manuscripts..which all miscarried in the time of the late Civil Wars..so that the very Titles and Arguments of them are perished likewise.
1734 B. Franklin in Pennsylvania Gaz. 20 June 1/2 All the Loveliness of its Countenance fled for ever. Death sits heavy upon it, and the Sprightliness and Vigour of Life is perished in every Feature.
1873 W. D. Howells Poems 94 With sullen throbs of the pendule Sighed the time-worn clock for the death of the days that were perished.
b. transitive. In active use with object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > bring to ruin or put an end to
undoc950
shendOE
forfarea1000
endc1000
to do awayOE
aquenchc1175
slayc1175
slayc1175
stathea1200
tinea1300
to-spilla1300
batec1300
bleschea1325
honisha1325
leesea1325
wastec1325
stanch1338
corrumpa1340
destroy1340
to put awayc1350
dissolvec1374
supplanta1382
to-shend1382
aneantizec1384
avoidc1384
to put outa1398
beshenda1400
swelta1400
amortizec1405
distract1413
consumec1425
shelfc1425
abroge1427
downthringc1430
kill1435
poisonc1450
defeat1474
perish1509
to blow away1523
abrogatea1529
to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perka1529
dash?1529
to bring (also send) to (the) pot1531
put in the pot1531
wipea1538
extermine1539
fatec1540
peppera1550
disappoint1563
to put (also set) beside the saddle1563
to cut the throat of1565
to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch1568
to make a hand of (also on, with)1569
demolish1570
to break the neck of1576
to make shipwreck of1577
spoil1578
to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head)1579
cipher1589
ruinate1590
to cut off by the shins1592
shipwreck1599
exterminate1605
finish1611
damnify1612
ravel1614
braina1616
stagger1629
unrivet1630
consummate1634
pulverizea1640
baffle1649
devil1652
to blow up1660
feague1668
shatter1683
cook1708
to die away1748
to prove fatal (to)1759
to knock up1764
to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off1834
to put the kibosh on1834
to cook (rarely do) one's goose1835
kibosh1841
to chaw up1843
cooper1851
to jack up1870
scuttle1888
to bugger up1891
jigger1895
torpedo1895
on the fritz1900
to put paid to1901
rot1908
down and out1916
scuppera1918
to put the skids under1918
stonker1919
liquidate1924
to screw up1933
cruel1934
to dig the grave of1934
pox1935
blow1936
to hit for six1937
to piss up1937
to dust off1938
zap1976
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. ccxxxviiv We coueyte nat to perysshe theyr fame in any wyse.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. ii. 4 The best way to perish discontentments.
1643 J. Steer tr. Fabricius Exper. Chyrurg. xiii. 48 That they grow not..to a pin and webbe, or else cleane perish the sight.
7. To destroy, wreck, or ruin (a physical thing, esp. a ship or building).† b. transitive. In active use with object. Obsolete.
a. transitive. In past participle with to be.
ΚΠ
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4648 Þe relikes nolde hii noȝt bileue, ac bere wiþ hom vor fere; Vor raþer hii wolde ymartred be þan hii yperissed [ B yspersched; v.r. yperced] were.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 157v Scilla and caribdis ben two perilouse places in þat see, in þe whiche many shippes be perisshed.
?a1425 (a1400) Brut (Corpus Cambr.) 313 (MED) Trees & housyng wiþ sodeyn tempest & strong lightnyng were yperisshed.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. ii. 91 A shippe is soone perisshid and lost by a lityll tempest.
a1908 H. C. Hart MS Coll. Ulster Words in M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal (1953) 210/1 The estates 'ill be perished altogether.
1991 Hansard Commons 1 Nov. 154 We must all hope fervently that..great cities such as Dubrovnik do not fall to be perished, as others have.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)]
to bring to noughteOE
forspillc893
fordilghec900
to bring to naughtOE
astryea1200
stroyc1200
forferec1275
misdoa1325
destroyc1330
naught1340
dingc1380
beshenda1400
devoida1400
unshapea1400
to wend downa1400
brittenc1400
unloukc1400
perishc1426
defeat1435
unmake1439
lithc1450
spend1481
kill1530
to shend ofc1540
quade1565
to make away1566
discreate1570
wrake1570
wracka1586
unwork1587
gaster1609
defease1621
unbe1624
uncreate1633
destructa1638
naufragate1648
stifle1725
stramash1788
disannul1794
destructify1841
locust1868
to knock out1944
dick1972
c1426 J. Audelay Poems (1931) 108 Y wyl send ȝoue..Gret fuyrus and leytis ȝoue fore to bren, Al euelys to perysche ȝour lobors þen, ȝour cornes, ȝour froytis, ȝour vynus, ȝour tren.
c1450 (c1415) in W. O. Ross Middle Eng. Serm. (1940) 247 (MED) It falleþ oft tymes þat þe sonne perreshis þe cloudes and dissolues hem and turneþ hem oft in-to dropes of dewe.
1543 ( Chron. J. Hardyng (1812) 78 (MED) Great pyles of tree and yron sette hym again, His shippes to peryshe [v.r. perse].
c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1877) II. 10 A fire at Broken wharfe..brent and perished aboue six howses.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea lxi. 143 Another [wound] through the arme perishing the bone, and cutting the sinewes.
1790 R. Burns Tam o' Shanter 168 in Poems & Songs (1968) II. 562 For mony a beast to dead she shot, And perish'd mony a bony boat.
1844 Hood's Mag. Jan.–June 103 Many foul blights Perish'd his hardwon gains.
8. To cause the death of; to kill, put to death.† a. transitive. In past participle with to be. = sense 1a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > killing > kill [verb (transitive)]
swevec725
quelmeOE
slayc893
quelleOE
of-falleOE
ofslayeOE
aquellc950
ayeteeOE
spillc950
beliveOE
to bring (also do) of (one's) life-dayOE
fordoa1000
forfarea1000
asweveOE
drepeOE
forleseOE
martyrOE
to do (also i-do, draw) of lifeOE
bringc1175
off-quellc1175
quenchc1175
forswelta1225
adeadc1225
to bring of daysc1225
to do to deathc1225
to draw (a person) to deathc1225
murder?c1225
aslayc1275
forferec1275
to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird)c1275
martyrc1300
strangle1303
destroya1325
misdoa1325
killc1330
tailc1330
to take the life of (also fro)c1330
enda1340
to kill to (into, unto) death1362
brittena1375
deadc1374
to ding to deathc1380
mortifya1382
perisha1387
to dight to death1393
colea1400
fella1400
kill out (away, down, up)a1400
to slay up or downa1400
swelta1400
voida1400
deliverc1400
starvec1425
jugylc1440
morta1450
to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bierc1480
to put offc1485
to-slaya1500
to make away with1502
to put (a person or thing) to silencec1503
rida1513
to put downa1525
to hang out of the way1528
dispatch?1529
strikea1535
occidea1538
to firk to death, (out) of lifec1540
to fling to deathc1540
extinct1548
to make out of the way1551
to fet offa1556
to cut offc1565
to make away?1566
occise1575
spoil1578
senda1586
to put away1588
exanimate1593
unmortalize1593
speed1594
unlive1594
execute1597
dislive1598
extinguish1598
to lay along1599
to make hence1605
conclude1606
kill off1607
disanimate1609
feeze1609
to smite, stab in, under the fifth rib1611
to kill dead1615
transporta1616
spatch1616
to take off1619
mactate1623
to make meat of1632
to turn up1642
inanimate1647
pop1649
enecate1657
cadaverate1658
expedite1678
to make dog's meat of1679
to make mincemeat of1709
sluice1749
finisha1753
royna1770
still1778
do1780
deaden1807
deathifyc1810
to lay out1829
cool1833
to use up1833
puckeroo1840
to rub out1840
cadaverize1841
to put under the sod1847
suicide1852
outkill1860
to fix1875
to put under1879
corpse1884
stiffen1888
tip1891
to do away with1899
to take out1900
stretch1902
red-light1906
huff1919
to knock rotten1919
skittle1919
liquidate1924
clip1927
to set over1931
creasea1935
ice1941
lose1942
to put to sleep1942
zap1942
hit1955
to take down1967
wax1968
trash1973
ace1975
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 41 A Cristen man þat comeþ þer liȝtliche i-persed [read is i-persed; L. periclitatur], but a Saracan gooþ awey hoel and sound.
1389 in J. T. Smith & L. T. Smith Eng. Gilds (1870) 117 (MED) If he dey, yat is for to say, if he be perichee be water or be lond, yen schal is gyld brethere gare seke him.
a1500 Gospel of Nicodemus (Harl. 149) (1974) 67 (MED) Moyses also preyed for youre fadrys, that they schuld not be peryssched.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. 111/2 Thai..slang him in the wattir..quhare he was perist.
1640 in J. Nicholson Minute Bk. War Comm. Covenanters Kirkcudbright 3 Nov. (1855) 76 The poore sogers are almost perisched..for want of schoes and clothes.
1758 R. Eastburn Faithful Narr. 15 Friday morning, was almost perished with cold.
1818 I. Lickbarrow Lament upon Death of Princess Charlotte 12 They are perished together in their loveliness.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury lii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 312 I wished the race of cows were perished.
b. transitive. In active use with object. Now chiefly Australian. †to perish one's life: to lose one's life (obsolete).
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Trin. Cambr.) (1887) App. Z. 825 (MED) O gret wolf me fond þer þat hefd ywuste hadde, Þat none oþere bestes yperissched hit nadde.
?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (Paris) (1971) 4 It byfalleþ a good leche..to saue þe body and nouȝt to perische [?a1425 N.Y. Acad. Med. slee; L. perimere] it.
1494 Loutfut MS f. 29, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Peris Drownit or devourit thaim that is to say perist thaim.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 7614 The grekes..hade faren fro home To put hom in perell to perysshe þere lyues.
1598 G. Wateson Cvres of Diseased sig. A3 Such other Diseases, as haue perished your Maiesties people in the Southerne parts.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. viii. 355 Their Burser..had almost perished his owne life.
1651 J. Tatham Distracted State iii. i. 17 They like Moales have work'd..to set the Kingdome In such a flame that might both Perish you And all your friends.
1898 W. P. Ridge Mord Em'ly xv. 228 Chrise, I'll perish you, if you ain't careful.
1938 G. Korson Minstrels Mine Patch (1964) 195 Oh, a sudden flash and a deafening sound..Which perished those four miner boys.
1975 B. Fuller Ghan 75 ‘I'll perish you,’ he threatened. ‘I'll put a half-moon in your belly.’
a. transitive. In active use with object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > ruin or damage morally
perishc1390
marc1400
ruin1558
c1390 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale 75 Oure swete lord god of heuene that no man wole perisse, but wole that we comen alle to the knoweleche of hym and to the blisful lyf that is perdurable.
?a1475 Lessons of Dirige (Douce) 322 in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 131 (MED) My flesshe, the worlde..These ben myn enemyes, lord, echone, Euer aboute to perysshe me.
1750 Student 1 No. 8. 299 Wishing God to perish his body and soul, if ever he appear'd on the scaffold to do the act or lift up his hand against him.
b. transitive. In past participle with to be. = sense 2. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > immorality > [verb (transitive)] > and ruin
perisha1400
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)] > corrupt
corrumpa1340
corrupt1382
perisha1400
cankera1450
gangrenate1532
putrefy?1548
cankerfret1585
debauch1603
fly-blow1605
bebauch1607
perjurea1616
ulcer1642
dross1648
deboise1654
gangrene1658
a1400 Prose Life Christ (Pepys) (1922) 61 (MED) Jesus ansuered þat mychel of þat folk schulden be perisshed, and many Sarazenes on euerych syde of þe werlde schulden ben saued.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 106 (MED) He had so many thoghtis of syn in his mynde þat he was like to be perisshid þerwith.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos xxiii. 86 In my priue closet, where I was perisshed.
1555 E. Bonner Certaine Homelyes ii. 11 When we were peryshed he saved vs.
10. To cause (a material thing) to rot or decay; to cause to deteriorate, esp. as the result of exposure to weather or injurious conditions.† a. transitive. In past participle with to be. = sense 5a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > deteriorate in condition [verb (intransitive)] > be decayed
perish1529
1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in Wks. (1557) 132/1 The bodye, kepyng yet stil his shappe & his organis not much perished.
1544 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 5 July (1933) 123 The letters cam to my handes a lytel perished with water, but they be nevertheles legible for theffecte.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 128 If any were perished by keping, then the Abbot to make them good.
1667 A. Wood Life & Times (1892) II. 113 [Laid] in a by-place expos'd to weather, and thereby are much perish'd, and become not legible.
1794–6 E. Darwin Zoonomia (1801) I. 137 There are many trees, whose whole internal wood is perished, and yet the branches are vegete and healthy.
b. transitive. In active use with object.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > cause bad condition in [verb (transitive)] > cause to decay
decay1536
perisha1549
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > damage or injure [verb (transitive)] > of environmental or supernatural factors
smitea1382
strikec1480
blasta1533
perisha1549
thunderstrike1613
siderate1623
to strike dead, blind1750
a1549 A. Borde Fyrst Bk. Introd. Knowl. (1870) i. 121 There is no wynde nor wether that dothe hurte or peryshe them.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune i. ii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ttttt2v/2 His wants And miseries have perish'd his good face.
1699 L. Meager New Art of Gardening 42 If the Vine stands against damp Walls, the wetness perishes the Clusters that touch it.
1743 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman (Dublin ed.) June iv. 39 The Winter..and Spring..were so dry, and severely cold, that they perished a great deal of Wheat.
1775 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 28 Jan. (1778) Will the frost perish the exposed fibres?
1867 S. W. Baker Nile Tributaries Abyssinia iii. 61 The extreme heat of the sun and simoon perishes all vegetation.
1923 Daily Mail 4 July 6 As frost would crack and perish the undried cement.
11. † a. transitive. To lose; to squander or waste (property, money, etc.). Obsolete.† b. transitive. Chiefly Scottish. to perish the (also one's) pack: to spend or squander all of one's money. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > loss > lose [verb (transitive)]
losec950
forgarc1175
letc1200
leese?c1225
forgoc1275
tinec1300
wanta1425
lessena1500
becosta1522
amit1525
perish1531
to make shipwreck of1588
to come short of1690
1531 T. Elyot Bk. named Gouernour i. xvii. sig. Jiij Nothinge was perisshed sauue a litle bagage.
1592 Testimoniall 2 June in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1600) III. 845 This night we perished our maine tressletrees.
1638 J. Ford Fancies iv. 51 If you have not perished all your reason.
1691 J. Wilson Belphegor i. ii One..that has perish'd his own Fortune, to save the Publick.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > waste of money or extravagance > spend money wastefully or extravagantly [verb (intransitive)] > spend all one has
to perish the (also one's) pack1656
to run out1692
1656 J. Bramhall Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon vi. 235 If a Merchant doe reckon only the price which his commodity cost him beyond Sea,..he will soon perish his Pack.
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie III. xxii. 193 Her son, perished the pack, and they say has spoused his fortune and gone to Indy.
1878 J. S. Neish Reminisc. Brechin 43 More than once he ‘perished the pack’ when on the spree.
1895 W. C. Fraser Whaups of Durley xii. 160 Davie had ta'en to the bottle and perished the pack.
c. transitive. colloquial (chiefly Scottish) To consume (food or drink) rapidly or greedily. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1876 J. Smith Archie & Bess 23 Yer faither an' me perished three gills.
1877 W. Cross in Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 474/1 [Forfarshire] He perish'd a hale platefu' o' porritch.
1904 ‘H. Foulis’ Erchie iv Beer, beer, glorious beer; I'm shair I've perished three gallons this very day.
1959 Bulletin (Glasgow) 23 May 6/1 Seven cats, all with kittens, can perish a queer lot of the stuff [sc. milk].
12.
a. transitive. Of cold, hunger, etc.: to afflict severely. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > wasting disease > affect with wasting disease [verb (transitive)] > wither
pinch1548
beblast1558
forwelk1593
wither1599
perish1719
mummify1883
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 19 Rains and Cold to benumb and perish their Limbs.
1876 C. C. Robinson Gloss. Words Dial. Mid-Yorks. 100/2 If thou goes out to-night it will perish thee.
1905 N.E.D. (at cited word) The want of sleep perished me.
b. transitive. colloquial. In past participle with to be: to be brought near to death (from cold); to be extremely cold. Cf. sense 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > coldness > make cold [verb (transitive)] > give sensation of cold to > cause to perish with cold
starve1574
perish1796
1796 M. G. Lewis Monk I. iii. 179 Throw some logs upon the fire, for the gentleman seems perished with cold.
1845 J. W. Carlyle Lett. I. 313 We were all perished with cold.
1866 E. Fitzgerald Let. 2 Apr. (1980) II. 579 I get perished with the N.E. wind.
1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xli ‘Dining at the camp!’ says Aileen, looking regularly perished.
1936 N. Streatfeild Ballet Shoes xvi. 248 She told her she was perished and poked the fire.
1995 A. Warner Morvern Callar (1996) 32 Get by the bleezing fire then, yous must be perished the both of yous.
Phrases
P1. intransitive. In optative subjunctive, in exclamations and imprecations.
a. perish the thought (also man, name): may the thought (man, name, etc.) die, be destroyed, be damned, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > expression of hope [phrase]
perish the thought (also man, name)1526
while there's life there's hope1539
good (also braw, etc.) time cominga1780
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Acts viii. 20 Perish thou and thy money togedder.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V iv. iii. 72 Perish the man whose mind is backward now.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 614 Call them not Trojans: Perish the Renown, And Name of Troy, with that detested Town.
1700 C. Cibber Tragical Hist. King Richard III v. iii. 52 Perish that thought.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 31 Perish the baubles! Your person is all I desire.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 89 Perish my name, if aught afford Its chieftain safety, save his sword.
1877 Spirit of Times 15 Dec. 530/1 ‘You do not intend indulging in such a performance, I suppose?’ ‘Perish the thought!’
1953 R. Macaulay Let. 23 Jan. in Last Lett. to Friend (1962) 75 Which disposes of your notion that I should ever write to Miss Prescott. Perish the thought!
2002 Daily Tel. 30 Jan. 25/7 Perish the thought that sense of occasion is to die.
b. perish forbid [after God forbid at forbid v. 2b.] U.S. (frequently humorous colloquial): let it not be considered; let it not happen.
ΚΠ
1944 N.Y. Times 23 Jan. 23 (advt.) Love light ain't meant to be hid No! No! No!..perish forbid.
1970 Jrnl. Econ. Lit. 8 765/1 This should not mean an additional course requirement—perish forbid!
2003 K. R. A. DeCandido Destruction of Illusions 205 Of course, he could've just asked me to crack the lock,..but perish forbid an uber ask a kludge for help.
P2. or perish in the attempt chiefly hyperbolical : appended to a resolve or promise, indicating that one will risk one's life, or try one's utmost, to carry it out.
ΚΠ
1652 C. Manuche Loyal Lovers v. i. 46 Poor Gentlewoman, I will redeem thy Adrastus Or perish in the attempt.
a1689 A. Behn Younger Brother (1696) iii. iii. 31 Soft Love, and mightier Friendship seizes all. I'll save him, tho' I perish in the Attempt.
1730 T. Cibber Lover 26 I'm determin'd to overcome 'em [sc. my difficulties] all, or perish in the Attempt.
1793 H. Boyd Helots ii, in Poems 53 To gain that lovely maid in whose blue veins The hopes unite of that old regal line.—I cross him there, or perish in the attempt.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. ii. 23 [He was] as resolved as ever to get to Sandford and back before hall time, or perish in the attempt.
1870 L. M. Alcott Old-fashioned Girl xvii. 337 He..sternly resolved to be an honor to his family, or perish in the attempt.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxiii. 256 I shall walk that ridge-pole, Diana, or perish in the attempt.
1938 M. Gervaise Distance Enchanted iv. 73 We'll have a happy Christmas,..or perish in the attempt!
2007 B. Tighe Identity Cards xiv. 132 Jady..was going to make serious amounts of money out of the government's folly or perish in the attempt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1823
v.c1275