eradication

[Lat. eradicatio, from eradi cat us, pa. par. of eradico; Fr. éradication; Sp. eradicacion.] *I. Literally : 1. The act of pulling or tearing up by the roots; the act of rooting up or out. 2. The state of being pulled or torn up by the roots. "They affirm the roots of mandrakes give a shriek upon eradication , which is false below confutation."- Browne : Vulgar Errors , bk. ii., ch. vi. II. Fig .: The act or proce of eradicating, extirpating, or rooting out completely; extirpation, extermination, utter destruction. "The very eradication of all lusts."-Cowley: E ays; Of Solitude . ě-răd-i-ca-tive, a . & s . [Eng. eradicat ( e ); -ive.] A. As adj .: Tending to eradicate, extirpate, or root out utterly; removing or destroying completely. B. As subst .: A medicine or preparation which eradicates or removes completely any disease.