destroy

/di-ˈstrȯi/

Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build

verb

  1. to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of; also : to ruin as if by tearing to shreds

  2. to put out of existence : kill

  3. neutralize

destroyed the files