DEFENESTRATION- "the act of throwing a thing or esp. a person out of a window"

By MsW

"Defenestration" refers to the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. This term is often used figuratively to describe the removal or dismissal of an individual in a forceful or abrupt manner, especially from a position of power or influence.

The word "defenestration" has its roots in Latin. It stems from the combination of "de-" (meaning "down from") and "fenestra" (meaning "window"). The term gained prominence due to historical events, such as the Defenestration of Prague in 1618, a key event that triggered the Thirty Years' War. This event involved Bohemian nobles throwing imperial officials out of a window, symbolizing their rejection of Habsburg authority.

Here are three sample sentences using "defenestration":

  1. The political scandal resulted in the defenestration of several high-ranking officials from their positions.

  2. The company's decision to use faulty materials led to the defenestration of the CEO.

  3. Before his defenestration, the politician committed several felonies. 

  4. The murderer was accused of killing the victim by defenestration.


 
From
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

defenestrate

PRONUNCIATION:
(dee-FEN-uh-strayt) 

MEANING:
verb tr.: To throw someone or something out of a window.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin de- (out of) + fenestra (window).

NOTES:
There have been many defenestrations over the course of history, but the most famous, and the one that inspired the word defenestration, was the Defenestration of Prague on May 23, 1618 . Two imperial regents and their secretary were thrown out of a window of the Prague Castle in a fight over religion. The men landed on a dung heap and survived. The Defenestration of Prague was a prelude to the Thirty Years' War.

USAGE:
"When someone in a Joe Lansdale novel is defenestrated, you feel like shaking the glass shards out of your lap."
Jeff Salamon; The Further Adventures of Hap and Leonard; The Austin American-Statesman (Texas); Jul 4, 2009 .

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