SH-CH-TH – ‘progressive degradation’

7843. shachath, shaw-khath´; a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively):—batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, x utterly, waste(-r).

7844. shchath, shekh-ath´; (Aramaic) corresponding to 7843:—corrupt, fault.

7845. shachath, shakh´-ath; from 7743; a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction:—corruption, destruction, ditch, grave, pit.

The root חת expresses an idea of terror, consternation, sinking, downfall; literally as well as figuratively. In this verb the root being governed by the sign of relative movement ש, characterizes a continual state of downfall and debasement, a progressive degradation. (The Hebraic Tongue Restored, Fabré d’Olivet, p. 188)