Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
perish [per-ish] SynonymsWord Origin verb (used without object)
- to die or be destroyed through violence, privation, etc.: to perish in an earthquake.
- to pass away or disappear: an age of elegance that has forever perished.
- to suffer destruction or ruin: His valuable paintings perished in the fire.
- to suffer spiritual death: Save us, lest we perish.
Idioms
- perish the thought, may it never happen: used facetiously or as an afterthought of foreboding.
Origin of perish 1200–50; Middle English perissen Old French periss-, long stem of perir Latin perīre to perish, literally, go through, spend fully, equivalent to per- per- + īre to goRelated formsper·ish·less, adjectiveper·ish·ment, nounun·per·ished, adjectiveSynonyms for perish 1. expire. 2. wither, shrivel, rot, molder, vanish.Synonym study 1. See die1.Antonyms for perish 2. appear. British Dictionary definitions for perish the thought perish verb (intr)
- to be destroyed or die, esp in an untimely way
- (tr sometimes followed by with or from) to cause to sufferwe were perished with cold
- to rotleather perishes if exposed to bad weather
- perish the thought! may it never be or happen thus
noun
- do a perish Australian informal to die or come near to dying of thirst or starvation
Word Origin for perish C13: from Old French périr, from Latin perīre to pass away entirely, from per- (away) + īre to go Word Origin and History for perish the thought perish v.
mid-13c., from periss- present participle stem of Old French perir “perish, be lost, be shipwrecked” (12c.), from Latin perire “to be lost, perish,” literally “to go through,” from per- “through, completely, to destruction” (see per) + ire “to go” (see ion). Related: Perished; perishing.
Idioms and Phrases with perish the thought perish the thought
Don’t even think of it. This expression is used as a wish that what was just mentioned will never happen. For example, He’s going to give another speech? Perish the thought! This phrase appeared in Handel’s oratorio Joshua (1748; text by Thomas Morell): “It never shall be said that our allies in vain implor’d our aid. Perish the thought!” Also see god forbid.
perish
In addition to the idiom beginning with perish
also see: