n. 1. a. Loss of the soul; eternal damnation. b. Hell: "Him the Almighty Power / Hurl'd headlong ... / To bottomless perdition, there to dwell" (John Milton). 2. Utter ruin. [Middle English perdicion, from Old French, from Late Latin perditiō, perditiōn-, from Latin perditus, past participle of perdere, to lose : per-, per- + dare, to give; see dō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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