[syn: dilapidation, ruin]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dilapidation \Di*lap`i*da"tion\, n. [L. dilapidatio: cf. F.
dilapidation.]
1. The act of dilapidating, or the state of being
dilapidated, reduced to decay, partially ruined, or
squandered.
[1913 Webster]
Tell the people that are relived by the dilapidation
of their public estate. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
2. Ecclesiastical waste; impairing of church property by an
incumbent, through neglect or by intention.
[1913 Webster]
The business of dilapidations came on between our
bishop and the Archibishop of York. --Strype.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Law) The pulling down of a building, or suffering it to
fall or be in a state of decay. --Burrill.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dilapidation
n 1: a state of deterioration due to old age or long use [syn:
decrepitude, dilapidation]
2: the process of becoming dilapidated [syn: dilapidation,
ruin]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
61 Moby Thesaurus words for "dilapidation":
ablation, atomization, bankruptcy, biodegradability,
biodegradation, breakage, breakdown, breakup, collapse, corrosion,
corruption, crack-up, crippling, crumbling, damage, decay,
decomposition, degradability, degradation, destruction, detriment,
disablement, disintegration, disjunction, disorganization,
disrepair, dissolution, encroachment, erosion, harm, hobbling,
hurt, hurting, impairment, incapacitation, incoherence,
infringement, injury, inroad, loss, maiming, mayhem, mildew,
mischief, mold, mutilation, oxidation, oxidization,
ravages of time, resolution, ruination, ruinousness, rust,
sabotage, scathe, sickening, spoilage, spoiling, weakening, wear,
wear and tear
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
DILAPIDATION. Literally, this signifies the injury done to a building by
taking stones from it; but in its figurative, which is also its technical
sense, it means the waste committed or permitted upon a building.