Ruination

/ˌɹuː.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ noun

Definition

The state of being destroyed, collapsed, or completely unsuccessful; total ruin or devastation.

Etymology

From 'ruin' plus the suffix '-ation' (a condition or process), rooted in Latin 'ruina' meaning collapse or downfall.

Kelly Says

Ruination sounds more dramatic and old-fashioned than 'ruin' itself, which is why it appears so often in Gothic novels and Shakespeare—the extra syllables make destruction sound grandiose and fated.

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