The word "灭亡" is a compound verb formed by combining two synonymous characters, "灭" and "亡", to create a powerful and holistic concept of termination. "灭" (miè) originally depicts fire being extinguished, carrying the core meaning of to extinguish, destroy, or wipe out, emphasizing an active, often forceful, act of cessation. "亡" (wáng) originally meant to flee or hide, evolving to mean to perish, die, or be lost, focusing on the resultant state of disappearance or ruin. Together in "灭亡", they form a complementary pair where "灭" signifies the destructive action or process, and "亡" signifies the final, irreversible state it leads to, thus conveying a complete and absolute end, the total downfall, extinction, or annihilation of a state, lineage, or entity.