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 : eclipse
2 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