destroy v Cp OED ~ v 4 'to put out of existence.' Phr destroy oneself: to take one's own life.
   1888 Colonist Christmas No 2 He disappeared mysteriously, no one knew how. Some say that in an hour or moment of mental derangement he destroyed himself; more say he was drowned accidentally. 1971 CASEY 263-4 'That was a man,' he said, 'that destroyed himself down in the woods years ago. And that's what he destroyed himself with, his handkerchief was on his neck. Hung himself they said down there in the woods.' Q 71-6 'He destroyed himself' was the euphemism used to break the news of a suicide.

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