Is there a technical term for a destructive verb?

My definition of a destructive verb is one that describes a change to the object, such that once the action is completed, it can't be repeated on exactly the same object.

Examples:

I am cutting up an apple

I am eating an apple

If I want to repeat this tomorrow, I have to start with a different apple, since the original apple was destroyed.

Counter examples:

I am feeding my dog

I am walking my dog

I can feed and walk the same dog tomorrow.

Is there a technical term to describe the difference?

Solution 1:

I am not aware that such thing exists in English grammar. The concept of destructive operator (aka "verb") does, however, exist in the theory of programming languages and describes exactly that.

In layman's terms, the following would be destructive:

Pass (to me) the top element of this stack of plates.

(since the stack is now no longer the same, with one plate less).

Whereas this statement would be non-destructive:

Show (to me) the top element of this stack of plates.

(since the stack is left unchanged)

You may find an exemple in https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17039756/lisp-destructive-and-non-destructive-constructs .

I imagine that if that distinction was not translated into human grammars (at least to my knowledge, I may be wrong) then it is because the need was not felt. But it that serves a purpose, I do not see any problem in borrowing from the theory of computer languages.

Solution 2:

There are no inherently destructive verbs, therefore no term for them. While there are destructive phrases, it is only in context that the verb [in your example above] takes on a destructive intent. "I am cutting up" may also mean I am clowning around. Again, the verb has no destructive inference of itself - it is the context that makes it so (or not).

While I cannot surely assert there are NO verbs which do not assert some inherit destructive property, I can think of none. Even "destroy" does not meet an absolute definition - to destroy hope could only have a limited scope - even though the definition (Merriam-Webster) includes: "to put out of existence".