dē-strŭo, xi, ctum, 3
* V. a., to pull or tear down any thing built (opp. construo— for syn. cf.: demolior, diruo).
* Prop. (rare but class.): navem, aedificium idem destruit facillime, qui construxit,Cic. de Sen. 20, 72; so, templum prope funditus,Suet. Vesp. 9: moenia,Verg. A. 4, 326: aras,Vulg. Exod. 34, 13 et saep.
* Poet. transf.: crinemque manumque, i. e.,to strip off crown and sceptre,Stat. Th. 12, 93.
* Trop., to destroy, ruin, weaken (perh. not ante-Aug.): destruere ac demoliri aliquid,Liv. 34, 3: tyrannidem,Quint. 1, 10, 48: orationem (opp. illustrare),id. 11, 1, 2; cf. finitionem (opp. confirmare),id. 7, 3, 19: singulos testes (opp. exornare),id. 5, 7, 25 sq.: hostem,Tac. A. 2, 63: senem,id. H. 1, 6: multa vetustas,Ov. F. 5, 132; cf. id. M. 15, 235: dicta vultu,id. A. A. 2, 312: legem,Vulg. Rom. 3, 31.

s. TLL