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Can the verb "defenestrate" be applied to someone jumping out of the window?

English Language & Usage Asked by user404142 on July 28, 2021

I have only ever seen the word defenestrate`used in relation to the act of throwing someone else out of the window. But would this verb be appropriate when referring to someone doing it themselves?

I do not see any etymological reason not to use it in such a way, and yet I’ve never seen it be used in this fashion.

For instance, if I were to disembark a bus through the window, could it be said, that I "defenestrated myself"? Or does the word imply sinistercriminal nature of the act?

I’ve seen mentions of an extremely rare usage of the word autodefenestration, but I feel like it is a bit of idiosyncratic solution.

One Answer

The verb to defenestrate is usually transitive, but it can take a reflexive pronoun as a pseudo-object:

Roadwork: A Novel By Richard Bachman, Stephen King

Even in his dreams he thought he was awake, and in his dreams he committed suicide over and over; burned himself; bludgeoned himself by standing under an anvil and pulling a rope; ... shot himself ... defenestrated himself; ...

Return to Reichenbach By Geri Schear

I continued rifling through the papers. A name caught my eye. “Take a look at this, Watson,” I said, handing him the document.

“Carton? The fellow who defenestrated himself after changing his will and leaving his wife and son nothing.”

Correct answer by Greybeard on July 28, 2021

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