perdition

[ per-dish-uhn ]

noun

1. a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation.
2. the future state of the wicked.
3. hell ( def 1 ).
4. utter destruction or ruin.
5. Obsolete. loss.

perdition

/ pəˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. Christianity
   1. final and irrevocable spiritual ruin
   2. this state as one that the wicked are said to be destined to endure for ever
2. another word for hell
3. archaic.
   utter disaster, ruin, or destruction

Word History and Origins

Origin of perdition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin perditiōn-, stem of perditiō “destruction,” from perdit(us) “lost” (past participle of perdere “to do in, ruin, lose,” from per- per- + -dere, combining form of dare “to give”) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English perdiciun, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of perdition¹

C14: from Late Latin perditiō ruin, from Latin perdere to lose, from per- (away) + dāre to give

Example Sentences

How do we know that the expansion of gambling will coax some players, coaches and others toward perdition?

From Los Angeles Times

If so, which people are allowed in and which are banished to perdition, if not sentenced to be annihilated?

From Salon

The final showdown involves a high-stakes game of curling and a fiery portal to perdition.

From New York Times

People inundating us with spurious claims of knowledge feel free to condemn to perdition those who doubt their authority.

From Washington Post

The killers eventually were revealed to be two of Brenda’s brothers-in-law, fundamentalists who said they were carrying out God’s will — an act of so-called blood atonement for being what the brothers deemed “children of perdition.”

From New York Times