Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Destruction

Destruction , noun

[Latin destructio: compare French destruction. See Destroy.]

1.
The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught; subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation.
The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction. — Esth. ix. 5
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy. — Shakespeare
Destruction of venerable establishment. — Hallam
2.
The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or devastated.
This town came to destruction. — Chaucer
Thou castedst them down into destruction. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm lxxiii. 18
2.
A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a destroyer.
The destruction that wasteth at noonday. — Bible (KJV) - Psalm xci. 6