extinguish

To extinguish is defined as to put out, put an end to, or to settle a debt.

(verb)

When you pour baking soda on a kitchen fire and the fire goes out, this is an example of when you extinguish the fire.
When a plague kills an entire population, this is an example of how to extinguish a population.
When you find out you didn't get into the school you wanted, this is an example of a time when hope is extinguished.
When a debt is forgiven in full, this is an example of a time when the debt is extinguished.

See extinguish in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

Origin: L extinguere, exstinguere, to quench, destroy < ex-, out + stinguere, to extinguish (for IE base see stick) + -ish

Related Forms:

See extinguish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ex·tin·guished, ex·tin·guish·ing, ex·tin·guish·es

To put out (a fire, for example); quench.
To put an end to (hopes, for example); destroy. See Synonyms at abolish.
To obscure; eclipse.
Law
a. To settle or discharge (a debt).
b. To nullify: extinguished their title to the property.
Psychology To bring about the extinction of (a conditioned response).

Origin:

Origin: Latin exstinguere

Origin: : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex-

Origin: + stinguere, to quench; see steig- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: