Main Entry:

ex·tin·guish

Pronunciation:

\ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish\

Function:

transitive verb

Etymology:

Latin exstinguere (from ex- + stinguere to extinguish) + English -ish (as in abolish); akin to Latin instigare to incite — more at stick

Date:

circa 1540

1 a (1): to bring to an end : make an end of <hope for their safety was slowly extinguished> (2): to reduce to silence or ineffectiveness b: to cause to cease burning : quench c: to cause extinction of (a conditioned response) d: to dim the brightness of : eclipse2 a: to cause to be void : nullify <extinguish a claim> b: to get rid of usually by payment <extinguish a debt>

— ex·tin·guish·able \-(g)wi-shə-bəl\ adjective

— ex·tin·guish·er \-shər\ noun

— ex·tin·guish·ment \-mənt\ noun