| 词组 | dilapidated |
| 释义 | dilapidated 1. The argument, raised by Bierce 1909 and referred to by Copperud 1980, that dilapidated can only be used of a stone structure because it is derived from Latin lapis "stone," has not attracted the fancy of modern commentators. Their indifference reflects their good sense, because the argument fails as to both etymology and actual usage. Dilapidate comes from Latin dilapidatus, the past participle of dilapidare "to squander, destroy." Dilapidare was formed from the prefix dis- plus the verb lapidare "to throw stones," which in turn came from lapis "stone." So even Latin dilapidatus was at several semantic removes from lapis and was in no way tied to a meaning that involved stone. Neither the English verb dilapidate nor the adjective dilapidated has ever been restricted to referring only to things of stone. People, vehicles, buildings (many of them made of brick or other materials), and a host of other things have been and can be described as dilapidated. 2. The spelling delapidate(d) has very occasionally been used since the 17th century, but it is considered a misspelling. |
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