Ruin Comes From a Verb Meaning to Collapse
A ruin is a destroyed building. The Latin verb behind it means to fall down.
A ruin is the remains of a destroyed building, and *to ruin* is to spoil or destroy utterly. Latin *ruere* means to fall or rush down, and *ruina* was the collapse itself rather than what was left of it — the word named the falling, and English shifted it to the aftermath. The same verb gives *ruinous* and, unexpectedly, *congruent*, from *congruere*, to come rushing together, hence to agree.
- A destroyed building. *Ancient ruins.*
- To destroy. *Ruining the evening.*
- Financial collapse. *Facing ruin.*
- Ruinous — disastrous. *Ruinous.*
- Latin — *ruere*, to fall. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | ruin | A ruin. |
| Verb | ruin | Ruining. |
| Adjective | ruinous | Ruinous. |
| Adjective | ruined | Ruined. |
| Latin | ruere | To fall. |
- The abbey is a ruin.Building.
- Rain ruined the picnic.Verb.
- Ruina meant the collapse.Etymology.
The ruere family
- Ruin — a falling down
- Ruinous — causing collapse
- Congruent — rushing together, hence agreeing
- Incongruous — not fitting together
- Corruption is NOT related, being from *rumpere*, to break
Old French *ruine*, from Latin *ruina*, a collapse, from *ruere*, to fall or rush down.
Did ruin first mean the building or the collapse?
The collapse. Latin ruina named the act of falling; English moved it to what remains afterwards.
Is congruent related to ruin?
Yes. Both descend from Latin ruere, to rush, with congruere meaning to come rushing together and so to agree.