1.
[syn: extinction, extinguishing, quenching]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Extinguish \Ex*tin"guish\ ([e^]ks*t[i^][ng]"gw[i^]sh), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Extinguished([e^]ks*t[i^][ng]"gw[i^]sht); p
pr. & vb. n. Extinguishing.] [L. extinguere, exstinguere;
ex out + stinguere to quench. See Distinguish, Finish.]
1. To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to
cause to die out; to put an end to; to destroy; as, to
extinguish a flame, or life, or love, or hope, a pretense
or a right.
[1913 Webster]
A light which the fierce winds have no power to
extinguish. --Prescott.
[1913 Webster]
This extinguishes my right to the reversion.
--Blackstone.
[1913 Webster]
2. To obscure; to eclipse, as by superior splendor.
[1913 Webster]
Natural graces that extinguish art. --Shak
.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
extinguishing
n 1: the act of extinguishing; causing to stop burning; "the
extinction of the lights" [syn: extinction,
extinguishing, quenching]