murder en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmɝ.dɚ/ (General-American)
- (UK) audio
- (US) audio
- /ˈmɜːdə(ɹ)/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle English murder, murdre, mourdre, alteration of earlier murthre (“murder”) (see murther), from Old English morþor (“secret slaying, unlawful killing”) and Old English myrþra (“murder, homicide”), both from Proto-West Germanic *morþr, from Proto-Germanic *murþrą (“death, killing, murder”), from Proto-Indo-European *mr̥tro- (“killing”), from Proto-Indo-European *mer-, *mor-, *mr̥- (“to die”). Akin to Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐍂 (maurþr, “murder”), Old High German mord (“murder”), Old Norse morð (“murder”), Old English myrþrian (“to murder”) and morþ. The -d- in the Middle English form may have been influenced in part by Anglo-Norman murdre, from Old French murdre, from Medieval Latin murdrum (whence the English doublet of murdrum), from Frankish *morþr, *murþr (“murder”), from the same Germanic root, though this may also have been wholly the result of internal development (compare burden, from burthen and spider, from spiþra). (crows): Attested at least since 1475.
Meanings
-
(countable) An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.
The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.
1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:Reggie Clemons has one last chance to save his life. After 19 years on death row in Missouri for the murder of two young women, he has been granted a final opportunity to persuade a judge that he should be spared execution by lethal injection.
2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:A murder? Well, thank goodness for that!
1999 January 20, Anthony Horowitz et al., “Death's Shadow”, in Midsomer Murders:Throwing that punch was a murder whether you meant for it to happen or not.
There have been ten unsolved murders this year alone.
Life is cheap, never forget it. Corporations make marketing decisions by weighing the cost of being sued for your death against the cost of making the product safer. Your life is a factor in cost-effectiveness. So when you talk about murder, don't confine your discussion to individuals.
1997, George Carlin, Brain Droppings, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 177:One of the most urgent tasks facing me after I assumed office was to assure the country that everything possible was being done to uncover the truth surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy. John Kennedy had been murdered, and a troubled, puzzled, and outraged nation wanted to know the facts.
1971, Lyndon Johnson, “"I feel like I have already been here a year"”, in The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 25:Captain Sulu, who served under the legendary James T. Kirk for many years, disobeys Starfleet orders in order to try and help Kirk and another old shipmate, Dr. McCoy, who have been imprisoned for the murder of the Klingon chancellor.
2003, Paul Ruditis, Star Trek Voyager: Companion, →ISBN, page 131:
-
(uncountable) An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination. ▸ The crime of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination.
Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine.[…]One thing that is true, though, is that murder rates have fallen over the centuries, as policing has spread and the routine carrying of weapons has diminished. Modern society may not have done anything about war. But peace is a lot more peaceful.
2013 July 20, “Old soldiers?”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:The defendant was charged with murder.
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(abbreviation, alt-of, uncountable) An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination. ▸ Short for felony murder, the act of committing or abetting a crime that results in the killing of a person, regardless of intent, even if the perpetrator did not directly kill the victim.
alt of felony murder
Both the arsonist and her partner were charged with murder, even though they had intended for it to be a victimless crime.
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(uncountable) An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination. ▸ The act of killing any being in an immoral manner; (countable) an instance of this.
Dr. Herrera also knew Hemingway had held Batista's army personally responsible for the brutal murders of his dogs, Blackie (Black Dog) and Machakos.
2011, Carlene Brennen, Hemingway's Cats, →ISBN, page 161:It may be guessed, indeed, that this was the original form of the story, the fairy being the addition of those who considered Jack's thefts from (and murder of) the giant to be scarcely justified without her.
1984, Humphrey Carpenter, Mari Prichard, The Oxford companion to children's literature, page 275:Meat is murder.
- (broadly, countable, nonstandard, uncountable) An act of killing a person unlawfully, especially with predetermination. ▸ Synonym of murderer , a person who has unlawfully killed another.
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(figuratively, uncountable, used as a predicative noun) Something difficult or terrible to endure.
I heard this class is murder.
This headache is murder.
-
(countable, dated, figuratively, slang, uncountable) Something remarkable or impressive.
Right quick another cat spoke up real loud, saying, “That’s murder man, really murder,” and his eyes were signifying too.
1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Tell a Green Man Something”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 3 (1928–1935: The Big Apple), page 230:Altaira Morbius: [swimming in a pool] Come on in. Commander Adams: I didn't bring my bathing suit. Altaira Morbius: What's a bathing suit? Commander Adams: [quickly turning his back] Oh, murder!
1956, Cyril Hume, Forbidden Planet:
-
(collective, countable) A flock of crows or sometimes ravens.
Every morning we woke up to the squawking of what seemed like a hundred murders in the trees above our campsite.
A murder of crows dotted my backyard.
Without the murder of crows roosting in its branches, Nevermore Tree looked as bare as a skeleton.
2001, Daniel Handler, The Vile Village, →ISBN, page 76:A murder of ravens scythed through the air , black arrows on a western trajectory toward the Flathead River .
2010, Cristina Eisenberg, The Wolf's Tooth, Island Press:The murder flew away on a sunny May day deeper into the forest and decided to settle on beautiful jackfruit trees
2024, Rostam Pooladi-Darvish, Asha, Page Publishing, Incorporated, page 2:For his part, Melchior was growing unhappy with the murder of crows. They had been patiently following Arthur for hours, trailing him from town to country.
1995, Deepak Chopra, The Return of Merlin: A Novel, →ISBN, page 108:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| murders | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| murther | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
unmurdered · postmurder · multimurder · self-murder · murder log · murdercide · murdereth · axe-murderer · murder weapon · murderest · depraved-heart murder · murdersome · megamurder · murdery · murderbird · murder mystery · scream bloody murder · capital murder · murderousness · murdelize · murder will out · Murderapolis · depraved-indifference murder · murderize · social murder · cry blue murder · murdress · murder-hobo · lust murder · murderable · murder by suicide · murder-suicide · malice murder · murder one's darlings · felony murder rule · murdered · murder ballad · murder hobo · murdermonger · half murder · murder board · murderously · murderee · murderess · axe murderer · murderbot · murder noodle · countermurder · murdering · felony murder · murderin' · axe-murder · self-murderer · murder hole · unmurderous · murderhood · murderabilia · archmurderer · nonmurderer · murder hornet · murder-hole · antimurder · mass murderer · murderhobo · murder in the first degree · murder mitten · murder in the dark · second-degree murder · Murderino · murderer · murderball · get away with murder · axe murder · blue murder · third-degree murder · murder rap · Murder Husbands · murder book · scream blue murder · murderment · first-degree murder · murderish · nonmurder · murder simulator · mass murder · murder-for-hire · murder in the second degree · gentle murder paradox · wink murder · murderless · muti murder · murderate · premurder · murder one · murderous
Hypernyms
Synonyms
murderer · assassination (act of deliberate killing) · flock (group of crows) · unkindness · homicide (act of deliberate killing) · manslaughter (act of deliberate killing) · conspiracy
Translations (250)
tg одамкушӣ (an act of deliberate killing) · kmr kuştin (an act of deliberate killing) · th ฆาตกรรม (an act of deliberate killing) · el ανθρωποκτονία (the crime of deliberate killing) · tl pagpatay (an act of deliberate killing) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐍂 (the crime of deliberate killing) · grc φόνος (the crime of deliberate killing) · fi murha (an act of deliberate killing) · sh ubístvo (an act of deliberate killing) · txb kāwälñe (an act of deliberate killing) · mg vono (an act of deliberate killing) · it assassinio (the crime of deliberate killing) · mi kōhuru (an act of deliberate killing) · lv slepkavība (the crime of deliberate killing) · pl zabójstwo (the crime of deliberate killing) · la homicīdium (an act of deliberate killing) · ug قاتىللىق (an act of deliberate killing) · lo ຄາດຕະກຳ (an act of deliberate killing) · az qətl (an act of deliberate killing) · ang mansliht (the crime of deliberate killing) · vi (tội) giết người (the crime of deliberate killing) · gl asasinato (the crime of deliberate killing) · km ការគុត (an act of deliberate killing) · sv mord (the crime of deliberate killing) · es asesinato (an act of deliberate killing) · cs porod (terrible to endure) · az öldürmə (the crime of deliberate killing) · mk убиство (the crime of deliberate killing) · vi (tội) ám sát (the crime of deliberate killing) · de Mord (terrible to endure) · el δολοφονία (an act of deliberate killing) · ckb کوشتن (an act of deliberate killing) · fr meurtre (an act of deliberate killing) · pt bando (flock of crows) · gl asasinato (an act of deliberate killing) · sh у̀бо̄јство (the crime of deliberate killing) · uk уби́вство (an act of deliberate killing) · ky өлтүрүү (an act of deliberate killing) · fi parvi (flock of crows) · ca assassinat (an act of deliberate killing) · pdt Mort (the crime of deliberate killing) · ang mansliht (an act of deliberate killing) · nl moord (the crime of deliberate killing) · uk уби́вство (the crime of deliberate killing) · yi מאָרד (an act of deliberate killing) · ar قَتْل (an act of deliberate killing) · sh ubístvo (the crime of deliberate killing) · yue 謀殺 /谋杀 (the crime of deliberate killing) · pt tortura (terrible to endure) · ro crimă (an act of deliberate killing) · mg vono (the crime of deliberate killing) · ang sleġe (the crime of deliberate killing) · az öldürmə (an act of deliberate killing) · sh ùbōjstvo (an act of deliberate killing) · rif tamenɣiwt (an act of deliberate killing) · nrf meurtre (the crime of deliberate killing) · vi ám sát (an act of deliberate killing) · gd mort (the crime of deliberate killing) · zu ukubulala (an act of deliberate killing) · nn mord (the crime of deliberate killing) · ur قَتْل (an act of deliberate killing) · tg қатл (an act of deliberate killing) · prs آدَمْکُشِی (an act of deliberate killing) · et roim (the crime of deliberate killing) · tr cinayet (an act of deliberate killing) · eo murdo (the crime of deliberate killing) · fr assassinat (the crime of deliberate killing) · pa ਹੱਤਿਆ (an act of deliberate killing) · prs کُشْتَار (an act of deliberate killing) · ja 謀殺 (an act of deliberate killing) · vi vụ giết người (an act of deliberate killing) · de Mord (an act of deliberate killing) · yue 謀殺 /谋杀 (an act of deliberate killing) · hu gyilkosság (the crime of deliberate killing) · ka მკვლელობა (the crime of deliberate killing) · ko 살인 (the crime of deliberate killing) · uz qotillik (an act of deliberate killing) · la nex (an act of deliberate killing) · eu erailketa (an act of deliberate killing) · pt assassínio (the crime of deliberate killing) · sv mord (an act of deliberate killing) · el φόνος (the crime of deliberate killing) · ru мокру́ха (an act of deliberate killing) · ckb کوشتن (the crime of deliberate killing) · ga dúnmharú (the crime of deliberate killing) · pt assassínio (an act of deliberate killing) · vi giết người (an act of deliberate killing) · sv kråkflock (flock of crows) · te హత్య (an act of deliberate killing) · sk vražda (an act of deliberate killing) · ta கொலை (an act of deliberate killing) · uz qatl etish (an act of deliberate killing) · ko 살인 (an act of deliberate killing) · tg куштор (an act of deliberate killing) · it assassinio (an act of deliberate killing) · cy llofruddiaeth (an act of deliberate killing) · ca assassinat (the crime of deliberate killing) · gd murt (the crime of deliberate killing) · lt žmogžudystė (an act of deliberate killing) · hi क़त्ल (an act of deliberate killing) · kk кісі өлтіру (an act of deliberate killing) · pt homicídio (an act of deliberate killing) · pa ਖ਼ੂਨ (an act of deliberate killing) · lv slepkavība (an act of deliberate killing) · kab timenɣiwt (an act of deliberate killing) · is morð (an act of deliberate killing) · af moord (the crime of deliberate killing) · fa-ira قَتْل (an act of deliberate killing) · he רֶצַח (an act of deliberate killing) · sh umórstvo (the crime of deliberate killing) · nl doodslag (an act of deliberate killing) · el μαρτύριο (terrible to endure) · cmn 謀殺 /谋杀 (the crime of deliberate killing) · la interfectiō (an act of deliberate killing) · cs vražda (the crime of deliberate killing) · km ឃាតកម្ម (an act of deliberate killing) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌸𐍂 (an act of deliberate killing) · sq vrasje (an act of deliberate killing) · yo ìpànìyàn (an act of deliberate killing) · it uccisione (an act of deliberate killing) · ko 살인죄 (the crime of deliberate killing) · fi murhaava (terrible to endure) · et mõrv (an act of deliberate killing) · km ការឃាត (an act of deliberate killing) · mk убиство (an act of deliberate killing) · pl morderstwo (an act of deliberate killing) · ko 모살 (the crime of deliberate killing) · he סיוט (terrible to endure) · gd murt (an act of deliberate killing) · pt homicídio (the crime of deliberate killing) · hu gyilkosság (an act of deliberate killing) · hi हत्या (an act of deliberate killing) · fi murha (the crime of deliberate killing) · de Mord (the crime of deliberate killing) · cu оубииство (an act of deliberate killing) · ru мо́крое де́ло (an act of deliberate killing) · nrf meurtre (an act of deliberate killing) · xh ukubulala (an act of deliberate killing) · tr cinayet (the crime of deliberate killing) · uk вби́вство (an act of deliberate killing) · uk вби́вство (the crime of deliberate killing) · ru уби́йство (an act of deliberate killing) · nb mord (the crime of deliberate killing) · nb mord (an act of deliberate killing) · sh у̀бо̄јство (an act of deliberate killing) · he להקת עורבים (flock of crows) · bo བཀྲོང་པོ (an act of deliberate killing) · sh уби́ство (an act of deliberate killing) · es asesinato (the crime of deliberate killing) · fa-ira کُشْتار (an act of deliberate killing) · is morð (the crime of deliberate killing) · nn mord (an act of deliberate killing) · fr meurtre (the crime of deliberate killing) · tl pagpatay (the crime of deliberate killing) · eo murdo (an act of deliberate killing) · pdt Mort (an act of deliberate killing) · pl morderstwo (the crime of deliberate killing) · et mõrv (the crime of deliberate killing) · ml ഹത്യ (an act of deliberate killing) · pa ਕਤਲ (an act of deliberate killing) · el φόνος (an act of deliberate killing) · fr homicide volontaire (an act of deliberate killing) · sh умо́рство (an act of deliberate killing) · ja 殺人罪 (the crime of deliberate killing) · ps قتل (an act of deliberate killing) · hy սպանություն (an act of deliberate killing) · nan-hbl 殺人 /杀人 (an act of deliberate killing) · prs قَتْل (an act of deliberate killing) · lt nužudymas (an act of deliberate killing) · gd mort (an act of deliberate killing) · tr adam öldürme (the crime of deliberate killing) · io ocido (an act of deliberate killing) · hi ख़ून (an act of deliberate killing) · fa-ira آدَمْکُشی (an act of deliberate killing) · az qətl (the crime of deliberate killing) · ur خُون (an act of deliberate killing) · hi घात (an act of deliberate killing) · ang sleġe (an act of deliberate killing) · sh umórstvo (an act of deliberate killing) · fi varisparvi (flock of crows) · ast asesinatu (an act of deliberate killing) · cs hejno (flock of crows) · sh умо́рство (the crime of deliberate killing) · hi हत्या (the crime of deliberate killing) · nl moord (an act of deliberate killing) · bn খূনকতল (an act of deliberate killing) · sh ùbōjstvo (the crime of deliberate killing) · ms pembunuhan (an act of deliberate killing) · et roim (an act of deliberate killing) · ja 殺人 (the crime of deliberate killing) · nan-hbl 謀殺 /谋杀 (an act of deliberate killing) · hy սպանություն (the crime of deliberate killing) · sl umor (the crime of deliberate killing) · be забо́йства (the crime of deliberate killing) · cs vražda (an act of deliberate killing) · oj nitaagewin (an act of deliberate killing) · lt nužudymas (the crime of deliberate killing) · ky адам өлтүрүү (an act of deliberate killing) · ta கொலை (the crime of deliberate killing) · ko 살해 (an act of deliberate killing) · pt assassinato (an act of deliberate killing) · kmr kuştin (the crime of deliberate killing) · mn аллага (an act of deliberate killing) · be забо́йства (an act of deliberate killing) · cmn 殺人 /杀人 (an act of deliberate killing) · oj nitaagewin (the crime of deliberate killing) · it omicidio (the crime of deliberate killing) · ka მკვლელობა (an act of deliberate killing) · te హత్య (the crime of deliberate killing) · da mord (an act of deliberate killing) · ar قَتْلٌ عَمْدٌ (the crime of deliberate killing) · ms pembunuhan (the crime of deliberate killing) · ga dúnmharú (an act of deliberate killing) · he רֶצַח (the crime of deliberate killing) · ja 殺人 (an act of deliberate killing) · da mord (the crime of deliberate killing) · tr adam öldürme (an act of deliberate killing) · it omicidio (an act of deliberate killing) · ml കൊലപാതകം (the crime of deliberate killing) · bg уби́йство (an act of deliberate killing) · bg уби́йство (the crime of deliberate killing) · kk өлтіру (an act of deliberate killing) · sh vrane (flock of crows) · ru уби́йство (the crime of deliberate killing) · nl moord (terrible to endure) · pl zabójstwo (an act of deliberate killing) · de mörderisch (terrible to endure) · pt assassinato (the crime of deliberate killing) · sl umor (an act of deliberate killing) · ja 殺害 (an act of deliberate killing) · vi vụ ám sát (an act of deliberate killing) · yue 殺人 /杀人 (an act of deliberate killing) · sh уби́ство (the crime of deliberate killing) · el δολοφονία (the crime of deliberate killing) · ps وژنه (an act of deliberate killing) · rsk забойство (an act of deliberate killing) · grc φόνος (an act of deliberate killing) · sk vražda (the crime of deliberate killing) · id pembunuhan (an act of deliberate killing) · el ανθρωποκτονία (an act of deliberate killing) · tr karga sürüsü (flock of crows) · rif tamenɣiwt (the crime of deliberate killing) · fro murtre (an act of deliberate killing) · cmn 謀殺 /谋杀 (an act of deliberate killing) · sk vražda (terrible to endure) · la interfeciō (the crime of deliberate killing) · ro asasinat (an act of deliberate killing) · ml കൊല (an act of deliberate killing) · la homicīdium (the crime of deliberate killing) · my လူသတ်မှု (an act of deliberate killing)