arch. Forms: 4–7 adnichilat(e, 5–6 adnychyl-, 6 adnihil-, 6– annihilate. [ad. L. annihilāt-us pa. pple. of annihilā-re: see ANNIHIL. As in other instances (see -ATE) this ppl. adj. originated a vb. of same form, which eventually displaced the earlier ANNIHIL; of this vb., annihilate was for some time used as pa. pple., but was at length displaced by the regular annihilat-ed, retaining only its adj. use, which is now also arch.] = ANNIHILATED.
1. Reduced to nothing, blotted out of existence.
1388. On 25 Art., in Wyclif’s Wks. (1871), III. 484. Þat þai clepen adnichilat or brouȝt to nouȝt.
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W.), III. xxiv. 325/1. Yf a brother Relygyous haue all his wyll mortefyed and adnychylate.
c. 1510. More, Picus, Wks. 1557, 18/2. If the world were adnihilate and turned to nought again.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., II. 65. The sollace of life, is by such a restraint opprest, and by degrees adnichilate.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, I. 531. All sense of self annihilate, I seem’d Diffused into the scene.
1839. Bailey, Festus, Proem. 7. Earth’s Millennial foretaste, ill annihilate.
† 2. Made null and void, of no effect. Obs.
1544. Act 35 Hen. VIII., i. I repute the same [othe] as vayne and adnichilate.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 78/1. Whereby all such errors and opinions … maie be made frustrat and adnihilat.
