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extirper

to uproot

verb ex-teer-PEH Rare

Origin: Latin extirpare (to pull up by the roots)

Also means

to eradicate

Usage Note

Extirper literally means to pull something out by the roots, but is used figuratively for eliminating something deep-seated, such as a bad habit or prejudice; extirper le mal à la racine is a common idiom. It can also describe physically removing something embedded, like a splinter.

Examples

"Il faut extirper ce préjugé de notre société."

Natural Translation

We must eradicate this prejudice from our society.

Literal Translation

it is-necessary to-uproot this prejudice from our society

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