Etymology From Middle English ruyne, ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna (“overthrow, ruin”), from ruō (“to fall down, tumble, sink in ruin, rush”).
In plural, Sometimes The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
The Veian and the Gabian towirs shall fall, / And one promiscuous ruin cover all; / Nor, after length of years, a stone betray / The place where once the very ruins lay.1705, J[oseph] Addison, Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
The labour of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.a. 1812, Joseph Stevens Buckminster, sermon:
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A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
Dr. Manuel: No one is saved. The age of humanity is ended. Soon, only ruin and corpses will remain.2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Eden Prime:
Not only is Jerusalem not a ruin, but she is at the height of her glory compared to all of Jewish history!2024, David Golinkin, “Naḥem On Tisha B'Av: Is It Permissible To Change The Wording?”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 4, page 136:
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The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.
The monastery has fallen into ruin.
3
Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.
Gambling has been the ruin of many.
The errors of young men are the ruin of business.1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Youth and Age”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
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The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He[…]played a lone hand,[…]. Most lone wolves had a moll at any rate—women were their ruin—but if the Bat had a moll, not even the grapevine telegraph could locate her.1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01:
His ruin startled th’ other steeds.[1611?], Homer, “(please specify |book=I to XXIV)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., The Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets. […], London: […] Nathaniell Butter, →OCLC; republished as The Iliads of Homer, Prince of Poets, […], new edition, volume (please specify the book number), London: Charles Knight and Co., […], 1843, →OCLC:
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A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow.
the ruin of a ship or an army
the ruin of a constitution or a government
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the ruin of health or hopes
Oh Portius, is there not some choſen Curſe, Some hidden Thunder in the Stores of Heav’n, Red with uncommon Wrath, to blaſt the Man Who owes his Greatneſs to his Country’s Ruin?1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!1768, Thomas Gray, The Bard:
Etymology From Middle English ruyne, ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna (“overthrow, ruin”), from ruō (“to fall down, tumble, sink in ruin, rush”).
To cause the fiscal ruin of; to bankrupt or drive out of business.
With all these purchases, you surely mean to ruin us!
In one way, indeed, he bade fair to ruin us; for he kept on staying week after week, and at last month after month, so that all the money had been long exhausted...1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
2
To destroy or render something no longer usable or operable.
He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them.
3
To destroy (e.g. a city) so as to leave ruins.
By the fireside there are old men seated, / Seeing ruined cities in the ashes.1857, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Golden Mile-Stone:
4
To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something.
My car breaking down just as I was on the road ruined my vacation.
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To make something less enjoyable or likeable.
I used to love that song, but being assaulted when that song was playing ruined the song for me.
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BDSM, Lifestyle, Sexuality To make (someone) have a ruined orgasm.
Though he his house of polisht marble build, / Yet shall it ruine like the Moth's fraile cell1636, George Sandys, Paraphrase upon the Psalmes and upon the Hymnes dispersed throughout the Old and New Testaments:
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Historical To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of.
The young libertine was notorious for ruining local girls.