Raze
/reɪz/noun
To completely destroy or level something, especially a building or town.
Did you know?The modern verb was influenced by the older word raze/razour meaning “to scrape off,” and it ultimately traces back to Latin radere, “to scrape, shave, or scratch,” the same root behind razor.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*red-
“to scrape or scratch”
Latin
Latin
radere
“to scrape, shave, or scratch”
Old French
Old French
raser
“to shave off, scrape away”
Middle English
English
raisen / rase
“to level or tear down”
Modern English
English
raze
“to destroy completely or level to the ground”