Rū'in1, n.
(32), n. [Fr. ruine, Pr., Sp., & Pg. ruina, It. ruina, rovina, Lat. ruina, from ruere, to fall with violence, to rush or tumble down.]
Sense 1. The act of falling or tumbling down; fall. [Obs.]
His ruin startled the other steeds. Chapman.
Sense 2. That change of any thing which destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use; destruction; overthrow; defeat; as, the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution of government.
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king. Gray.
Sense 3. That which is fallen down and become worthless from injury or decay; especially, in the plural, the remains of a destroyed or desolate house, fortress, city, and the like.
The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall, And one promiscuous ruin cover all; Nor, after length of years, a stone betray The place where once the very ruins lay. Addison.
The labor of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character. Buckminster.
Sense 4. The state of being decayed, or of having become worthless; as, to be in ruins; to go to ruin.
Sense 5. That which promotes injury, decay, or destruction.
The errors of young men are the ruin of business. Bacon.
Synonyms—Destruction; downfall; perdition; fall; overthrow; subversion; defeat; bane; pest; mischief.