verb
perish
PAIR-ish/ˈperɪʃ/
To die or cease to remain intact.
A fish perishes as its pond dries up completely.
Etymology
“Through” and “go” combine in Latin perire, literally “to go through” but meaning “to be lost, perish.” The destructive force of the prefix connects going with reaching death or destruction.
In context
it may let him perish in the street or depend upon private charity
More examples
- Many seedlings perish without enough water.
- Several hikers perished in the blizzard.
- Without refrigeration, fresh food can quickly perish.
Forms
perish · perishes · perished · perishing
perishable adjective — Likely to spoil or decay quickly.