annihilation
UK: əˌnaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən | US: əˌnaɪ.əˈleɪ.ʃən
n. the complete destruction or obliteration of something
n. (physics) the process in which a particle and its antiparticle collide and disappear, releasing energy
annihilation = annihil<destroy> + ation<noun suffix>
- annihil: Derived from Latin annihilare ("to reduce to nothing"), combining ad- (to) + nihil (nothing). The spelling preserves the Latin root nihil (nothing) but merges with the prefix ad- (to) into annihil-.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix indicating an action or process, from Latin -atio.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to the Latin annihilare, reflecting the concept of "reducing to nothing." Over time, ad- (to) fused with nihil (nothing) to form annihil-, emphasizing total destruction. The suffix -ation was later added in Middle English to nominalize the verb, solidifying its modern meaning of utter obliteration.
The nuclear war threatened the annihilation of entire cities.
In particle physics, annihilation occurs when matter meets antimatter.
The dictator sought the annihilation of all opposition.
Environmental degradation could lead to the annihilation of certain species.
The novel explores themes of love and annihilation in a post-apocalyptic world.