Word: expunge (verb)

Associations

Expunge means to erase or remove completely. It is often used in legal contexts, but can also refer to deleting something from memory or records.

• Example 1: "The court decided to expunge his criminal record." This means that the court removed all records of his crime.
• Example 2: "She wanted to expunge all bad memories from her mind." This means she wanted to erase any unpleasant memories.
• Example 3: "The editor will expunge unnecessary details from the article." This means the editor will remove details that are not needed.

A well-known synonym for expunge is "erase." The main difference is that "erase" is more general and can refer to any kind of removal, while "expunge" often has a formal or legal connotation.

Substitution

Instead of "expunge," you could use:

• "delete" (more common, informal)
• "remove" (more general, can apply to physical objects)
• "obliterate" (stronger, implies total destruction)

Using these words can change the meaning slightly. For example, "delete" sounds less formal than "expunge."

Deconstruction

The word "expunge" comes from Latin. It is made up of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out" and "punge," which comes from "pungere," meaning "to prick" or "to pierce." So, it literally means to "prick out" or "remove."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you wanted to expunge a memory? What was it?
• In what situations might you need to expunge something from a document or record?
• How does the idea of expunging relate to starting fresh or making a new beginning?