v. Obs. or arch. Also 5–6 extyrpe, 5–7 ex(s)tirpe, (7 exsterpe). [ad. f. extirp-er = Pr. extirpar, ad. L. ex(s)tirpāre: see EXTIRPATE.]

1

  1.  trans. To root up (plants); = EXTIRPATE 2.

2

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xix. 73. To extirpe and waste alle the goodes comyng oute of the erth.

3

1563–87.  Foxe, A. & M. (1641), I. 563. To extirpe and pluck the same [wild cockle] up by the roots.

4

1601.  Holland, Pliny, I. 525. These reeds do multiplie … after the old plants be extirped & destroied.

5

  absol.  a. 1643.  G. Sandys, Paraphr. Div. Poems, Eccl. iii. 4. A time to plant, t’extirpe: to Kill, to Cure.

6

  b.  transf. = EXTIRPATE 2 b.

7

1622.  Callis, Stat. Sewers (1647), 54. These banks … may be extirped if they be … a hinderance to the common good.

8

  c.  = EXTIRPATE 2 c.

9

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., A iv. Tyll that … which is the causer of the other be totally extyrped the healynge can nat be.

10

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 25. Festring sore did ranckle yett within … Which to extirpe, he laid him privily Downe.

11

1621.  G. Sandys, Ovid’s Met., VI. (1626), 123. I … am fit:… His eyes, his tongue, or what did thee inforce, T’extirp.

12

1650.  Bulwer, Anthropomet., Pref. Verse, A 3 b. [The teeth] filed down, or else extirped quite.

13

  2.  To root out, exterminate (a family, sect or nation); = EXTIRPATE 3.

14

1547.  J. Harrison, Exhort. Scottes, 216. The race of them is … not … extirped.

15

1598.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. I. Tropheis, 887. He … Wholly extirps the down-trod Jebusite.

16

1635.  Heywood, Hierarch., VIII. 501.

        And a large Patent granted therewithall,
T’ extirp the Witches thence in generall.

17

a. 1672.  Anne Bradstreet, Poems (1678), 180. And though Cassander died in his bed, His Seed to be extirpt, was destined.

18

1682.  R. Burthogge, An Argument (1684), 122–3. Antipedobaptisme … doth put it [the Church] in no small hazard of being utterly extirped.

19

  b.  intr. To die out, root and all.

20

1606.  G. W[oodcocke], trans. Hist. Ivstine, 116 a. They should be vtterly rooted out, and the posteritye of their name extirp.

21

  3.  With immaterial obj.; = EXTIRPATE 4.

22

  (Austin’s attempted revival of the word has not been imitated so far as our quots. show.)

23

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 430/1. This … fader … foughte ageynst the heretykes … and extyrped their heresye.

24

1552.  Latimer, Serm. Lord’s Prayer, vi. 47. God hath done greater thinges in … extirping out all popery.

25

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., III. ii. 110. It is impossible to extirpe it quite.

26

1605.  B. Jonson, Volpone, IV. ii. To extirpe the memory Of such an act.

27

1623.  Penkethman, Handf. Hon., Pref. Wee may extirpe or root out vices.

28

1721.  Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. xxxiv. 250. These Monasteries should be extirped.

29

1832.  Austin, Jurispr. (1873), I. 132. Ibid. (1879), I. xxiv. 483. Ibid. (1879), II. 986. Errors or defects in the details are readily extirped or supplied.

30

  ¶ erron. To speak abusively against. [Perh. arising from an ignorant misunderstanding of the phrase ‘the extirping of the Bishop of Rome,’ common in controversial literature.]

31

1605.  Rowley, When you see me, H. She did exsterp [ed. 1613 exstirpe, 1621, 1632 extirpe] against his Holinesse. Ibid., F ij b. Exstirpe.

32

  Hence Extirped ppl. a. Extirper, one who roots out or destroys. Extirping vbl. sb.

33

1502.  Arnolde, Chron., 159. Encresar off all goodnes, Extirper of synners and … interpiter of dew lauwe.

34

1535.  Act 27 Hen. VIII., c. 10 § 1. The extirping and extinguishment of all suche subtill practised feoffementes.

35

1543.  Grafton, Contn. Harding, 606. The extirpyng and abholyshyng of the vsurped authoritee of the b[ishop] of Rome.

36

1605.  Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vii. § 1. I 1. Extirpers of Tyrants … were honoured but with the titles of Worthies or Demy-Gods.

37

c. 1640.  J. Smyth, Lives Berkeleys (1883), I. 172. A great journey into Wales for the extirpinge of that nation.

38