extermine
Extremely low; archaic/obsolete in modern usage.Archaic, literary, historical.
Definition
Meaning
To destroy or kill completely; to eradicate.
To eliminate utterly, typically referring to a group, species, or population. Historically used more broadly for complete destruction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The modern, commonly used term with the same meaning is 'exterminate'. 'Extermine' is the etymological root (from Latin 'exterminare') and is found in texts up to the 17th-18th centuries but has since fallen out of use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary regional difference exists as the word is obsolete in both varieties. It may appear in historical or poetic contexts with equal rarity.
Connotations
Conveys a historical, dramatic, or literary tone. Its use today would be considered highly stylized or an intentional archaism.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in modern corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
extermine + NP (direct object)extermine + NP + from + NPVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none specific to this archaic form)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or analysis of early modern texts.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The king sought to extermine the rebel faction utterly.
- Old texts speak of plagues sent to extermine the sinful.
American English
- Early settlers feared the wilderness would extermine them.
- The decree was to extermine the pestilence from the land.
adverb
British English
- (No adverbial form derived from 'extermine'.)
American English
- (No adverbial form derived from 'extermine'.)
adjective
British English
- (No modern adjectival form; historical participle 'extermined' possible.)
American English
- (No modern adjectival form; historical participle 'extermined' possible.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Too rare for A2 level.)
- (Too rare for B1 level.)
- In the historical novel, the warlord vowed to extermine his enemies.
- The word 'extermine' is an old form of 'exterminate'.
- Shakespearean characters might speak of a plot to 'extermine' a royal line.
- The archaism 'extermine' lends a period authenticity to the historical dialogue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EXTERMINATE' (like Doctor Who's Daleks) but missing the final 'ATE' because it's an older, shorter form.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESTRUCTION IS COMPLETE REMOVAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with modern Russian 'экстермин' (not a standard word). The correct modern equivalent is 'уничтожать', 'истреблять'.
- It is not related to 'термин' (term).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'extermine' in modern writing instead of 'exterminate'.
- Misspelling as 'extermiate'.
- Pronouncing it with a long 'i' sound (/aɪ/) at the end.
Practice
Quiz
The word 'extermine' is best described as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a correct but archaic English word, largely obsolete since the 17th-18th centuries. The modern standard form is 'exterminate'.
No, unless you are deliberately writing in an archaic style or quoting a historical source. Using 'extermine' in modern contexts will be seen as an error for 'exterminate'.
It comes from Middle English, from Old French 'exterminer', from Latin 'exterminare', meaning 'to drive out, banish, destroy'. It is the direct precursor to 'exterminate'.
Understanding archaic forms aids in reading historical literature and seeing how language evolves. It clarifies the root of the modern word 'exterminate' and prevents confusion in etymological studies.