Dilapidate

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dilapidate \Di*lap"i*date\, v. i.
     To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become
     decayed; as, the church was suffered to dilapidate.
     --Johnson.
     [1913 Webster]



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Dilapidate \Di*lap"i*date\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dilapidated};
     p. pr. & vb. n. {Dilapidating}.] [L. dilapidare to scatter
     like stones; di- = dis- + lapidare to throw stones, fr. lapis
     a stone. See {Lapidary}.]
     1. To bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin, by
        misuse or through neglect; to destroy the fairness and
        good condition of; -- said of a building.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              If the bishop, parson, or vicar, etc., dilapidates
              the buildings, or cuts down the timber of the
              patrimony.                            --Blackstone.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To impair by waste and abuse; to squander.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The patrimony of the bishopric of Oxon was much
              dilapidated.                          --Wood.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  dilapidate
       v : bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin by neglect
           or misuse