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extirpate
extirpate definition
ex·tir·pate (eks′tər pāt′; also ek stʉr′-)
transitive verb extirpated -·pat′ed, extirpating -·pat′·ing
- to pull up by the roots; root out
- to destroy or remove completely; exterminate; abolish
Etymology: < L extirpatus, pp. of extirpare, exstirpare, to root out < ex-, out + stirps, lower part of a tree, root < IE base *ster-, stiff > stare, starve, stark
Related Forms:
- extirpation ex′·tir·pa′·tion noun
- extirpative ex′·tir·pa′·tive adjective
- extirpator ex′·tir·pa′·tor noun
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