No longer existing or alive; referring to species that have died out completely, or a fire that is no longer burning.
From Latin 'extinctus,' past participle of 'extinguere' (ex- 'out' + tinguere 'to quench'). Originally meant 'quenched' or 'put out,' then extended to mean 'entirely ended.'
Scientists estimate that 99.9% of all species that ever existed are now extinct—meaning most life in Earth's history failed, making the fact that we're here even more improbable, and extinction happening today is happening 1,000 times faster than the natural rate.
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