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abolish

verb

/əˈbɒlɪʃ/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of abolish

To formally put an end to something, typically a law, system, or practice.
"The activists were fighting to abolish the death penalty."

Detailed meaning of abolish

It implies a deliberate and intentional act of doing away with something that is considered outdated, unjust, or no longer necessary. For example, the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery in the United States, ending the practice of buying and selling human beings as property. The word "abolish" is often used in a legal or political context, and is associated with significant changes to the way things are done. When something is abolished, it is considered to be no longer valid or in effect, and its elimination is seen as a positive step towards progress or social justice. The term can also be used more broadly to describe any situation where an individual or organization is completely eliminated or removed from existence.

Example sentences containing abolish

1. The government decided to abolish the outdated tax law.
2. They plan to abolish the use of single-use plastics.
3. The king sought to abolish serfdom to improve lives.
4. Many countries have abolished the death penalty.
5. The school board voted to abolish the dress code.
6. It's time to abolish discrimination in all forms.

History and etymology of abolish

The verb 'abolish' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'abolēre.' In Latin, 'ab' means 'away from,' and 'olēre' means 'to grow' or 'to nourish.' Originally, 'abolēre' was used in a botanical sense to describe the act of removing a plant by uprooting or destroying its roots. Over time, this concept of uprooting or completely eradicating something was applied to various contexts, including the formal elimination of laws, systems, or practices. As a result, 'abolish' entered the English language, signifying the act of formally putting an end to something, often with the intent of eradicating it entirely. The etymology of 'abolish' underscores its historical connection to the idea of uprooting or completely removing something from existence, highlighting the decisiveness of the action it describes when applied to laws, systems, or practices.

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Further usage examples of abolish

1. They aim to abolish child labor worldwide.
2. The reform aims to abolish unfair trade practices.
3. The company will abolish its outdated policies.
4. She campaigned to abolish animal testing.
5. The new law will abolish restrictive immigration policies.
6. The activists hope to abolish gender inequality.
7. The movement seeks to abolish poverty.
8. It's essential to abolish racism from society.
9. The committee plans to abolish wasteful spending.
10. The revolution aimed to abolish the monarchy.
11. They decided to abolish the archaic rule.
12. The government is working to abolish corruption.
13. The organization's mission is to abolish hunger.
14. The goal is to abolish all forms of oppression.
15. The government decided to abolish the outdated laws.
16. She wanted to abolish the age-old tradition in their community.
17. The company planned to abolish the old system of work and introduce a new one.
18. They had to abolish the plan due to lack of funding.
19. The organization aims to abolish poverty in the country.
20. They want to abolish the use of plastic in their community.
21. The government promised to abolish corruption from the system.
22. He was trying to abolish the use of pesticides in their farm.
23. The new law aims to abolish discrimination of any kind.
24. They planned to abolish the use of fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy sources.
25. The movement was started to abolish child labor.