To die, especially in a violent or sudden way, or to be destroyed completely. Can also mean to deteriorate or decay over time.
From Old French 'perir', from Latin 'perire' meaning 'to go through completely, to be lost', composed of 'per-' (through) and 'ire' (to go). The word originally suggested complete disappearance rather than just death.
The Latin roots suggest something more profound than mere death - the idea of going completely through existence and emerging into nothingness. This makes 'perish' particularly powerful in phrases like 'publish or perish,' where the stakes feel existentially complete.
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