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# perish

verb (perish, perishes, perished, perishing)

«perish» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To die, especially in an accident, disaster or war. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#m1)
2. To rot, go bad or be destroyed, like food or rubber getting old. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#m2)
3. «Perish the thought» means "I hope that never happens". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#m3)
4. (UK informal) «Perished» or «perishing» means very cold: "I'm perished!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories and history: «Many sailors perished in the storm». In science and everyday life, perishable foods like milk and fish go bad quickly and must be kept cold — a safety point. In UK chat «it's perishing out there» means freezing. Phrases: «perish in», «perish the thought», «perishing cold», «perishable goods».

### Examples

- Many animals perished in the bushfire. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x1)
- The rubber band had perished and snapped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x2)
- Fresh fruit perishes quickly in the heat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x3)
- "Me, late for school? Perish the thought!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x4)
- It's perishing cold outside, put your coat on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x5)
- Come in, you must be perished! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x6)
- Thousands of trees perished in the drought. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x7)
- Keep perishable food in the fridge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: perished. «Perish» about people is formal and serious; in daily talk say «die». Adjective: perishable (goes off fast); non-perishable (tins, dry pasta). In maths, «perished» items are taken away from the total.

## In Jewish tradition

It means to die or be destroyed, often as punishment or disaster for a people. It can also mean to be lost or to vanish, as when counsel perishes from the wise, and Job asks about the innocent perishing.

**Interpretation.** The Torah's warnings of perishing are tied to the covenant. Tradition teaches that return to God (teshuvah) can avert such a fate. Job's question about the innocent perishing is read as part of the long Jewish discussion of why good people suffer.

### Examples

- And ye shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. (Torah LEV.26.38, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x1)
- And the children of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. (Torah NUM.17.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x2)
- Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, is to die; shall we wholly perish?' (Torah NUM.17.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x3)
- Is counsel perished from the prudent? (Prophets JER.49.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x4)
- Why did I not perish at birth? (Writings JOB.3.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x5)
- Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? (Writings JOB.4.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: perished. «Perish» about people is formal and serious; in daily talk say «die». Adjective: perishable (goes off fast); non-perishable (tins, dry pasta). In maths, «perished» items are taken away from the total.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «perish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/perish.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «perish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/perish.html) on Mova free.