Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.
- to cause or allow (a building, automobile, etc.) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect (often used passively): The house had been dilapidated by neglect.
- Archaic. to squander; waste.
verb (used without object), di·lap·i·dat·ed, di·lap·i·dat·ing.
- to fall into ruin or decay.
noun
- the state of being or becoming dilapidated
- (often plural) property law
- the state of disrepair of premises at the end of a tenancy due to neglect
- the extent of repairs necessary to such premises
verb
- to fall or cause to fall into ruin or decay
early 15c., from Late Latin dilapidationem (nominative dilapidatio) “a squandering,” noun of action from past participle stem of Latin dilapidare “throw away, squander, waste,” literally “pelt with stones” (thus “ruin, destroy”) or else “scatter like stones,” from dis- “asunder” (see dis-) + lapidare “throw stones at,” from lapis (genitive lapidis) “stone.” “Taken in Eng. in a more literal sense than was usual in Latin” [OED].
1560s, “to bring a building to ruin,” from Latin dilapidatus, past participle of dilapidare “to squander, waste,” originally “to throw stones, scatter like stones;” see dilapidation. Perhaps the English word is a back-formation from dilapidation.