Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RAZE, v.t. [Fr. raser; L. rasus, rado; Sp. arrasar. See Rase and Erase.]

1. To subvert from the foundation; to overthrow; to destroy; to demolish; as, to raze a city to the ground. The royal hand that raz'd unhappy Troy. – Dryden.
2. To erase; to efface; to obliterate. Razing the characters of your renown. – Shak. [In this sense, rase and erase are now used.]
3. To extirpate. And raze their factions and their family. – Shak.