Definition of extinguish

The origin of the word "extinguish" can be traced back to the Latin word "extinguere," which literally means "to put out" or "to quench." The Latin word "extinguere" was derived from "extingpere," which meant "to stamp out" or "to crush" in reference to putting out a fire by trampling or crushing it with one's feet. Irish monks brought the Latin word "extinguere" to England in the early Middle Ages as they adopted Latin as a language of scholarship. The word slowly made its way into the English language through contact with Latin-speaking cultures during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment periods. The current English word "extinguish" first appeared in the late 16th century, and its original meaning went beyond just fire suppression. In fact, the word "extinguish" was often used to describe the act of putting an end to something, such as a dispute or a flame from a candle. Over time, however, the meaning of "extinguish" became more closely associated with fire suppression, as the use of firefighting equipment such as water hoses and fire extinguishers became more common. Today, the word "extinguish" is commonly used to refer to the act of putting out a fire using these methods. Overall, the Latin root "extingpere" has given us an English word that has retained its meaning through the centuries and continues to be a key part of our vocabulary when it comes to fire safety.