Both Uses of
perish
in
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
- I must have perished with cold, but that, the coldest nights, I used to steal a bag which was used for carrying corn to the mill.†
Chpt 5 *perished = died, was destroyed, or ceased to exist
- A great many times have we poor creatures been nearly perishing with hunger, when food in abundance lay mouldering in the safe and smoke-house, and our pious mistress was aware of the fact; and yet that mistress and her husband would kneel every morning, and pray that God would bless them in basket and store!†
Chpt 9perishing = dying or being destroyed; or extremely cold
Definition:
to die -- especially in an unnatural way
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
or:
to be destroyed or cease to exist
You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought." It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.