dilapidate
English
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dilapidate¹
- /dɪˈlæp.ɪ.deɪt/ UK, US
- /dəˈlæp.ə.deɪt/ UK, US
Where it comes from
From Latin dilapidō (“to scatter, consume, throw away”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from dis- (“asunder”) + lapidō (“to stone”), from lapis (“stone”). Compare French dilapider.
verb dilapidates · dilapidating · dilapidated
- To cause to become ruined or put into disrepair. If the bishop, parson, or vicar, etc., dilapidates the buildings, or cuts down the timber of the patrimony[…]
- To squander or waste. The patrimony of the bishopric of Oxon was much dilapidated.
- To fall into ruin or disuse.
dilapidate²
Where it comes from
Learned borrowing from Latin dīlapidātus, perfect passive participle of dilapidō (“squander, consume, throw away”), see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more.
adjective more dilapidate · most dilapidate
- dilapidated
Translations
Every language
verb to cause to become ruined or put into disrepair
| Español | deteriorar |
|---|---|
| Português | dilapidar |
| Français | délabrer |
| Русский | разруша́ть razrušátʹ |
verb to squander or waste
| Español | derrochar |
|---|---|
| Português | dilapidar |
| Français | dilapider |
| Italiano | dilapidare, sperperare, buttare via, gettare alle ortiche |
| Русский | расточать rastočatʹ, растрачивать rastračivatʹ |
verb to fall into ruin or disuse
| Español | deteriorarse |
|---|---|
| Português | dilapidar-se |
| Русский | разрушаться razrušatʹsja, ветшать vetšatʹ, приходи́ть в упа́док prixodítʹ v upádok |
Talk about this word "dilapidate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/dilapidate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. dilapidate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/dilapidate "dilapidate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/dilapidate.Cite this
@misc{dilapidate_2026,
title = {dilapidate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/dilapidate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
