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defenestrate
[ dee-fen-uh-streyt ]
verb (used with object)
, de·fen·es·trat·ed, de·fen·es·trat·ing.
- to throw (a person or thing) out of a window:
A Portuguese bishop, accused of conspiring with the leaders of Castile, was defenestrated from the north tower of Lisbon's cathedral in 1383.
- to suddenly remove (a person) from an important position or office:
The chief executive was defenestrated after a corruption investigation.
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Word History and Origins
Origin of defenestrate1
First recorded in 1900–05; back formation from defenestration ( def )
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