self-murder en · NOUN
Etymology
From self- + murder, perhaps continuing Middle English *self-murther, from Old English selfmyrþere (“one who kills himself, a suicide”). Compare German Selbstmord, Dutch zelfmoord, Swedish självmord.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) Suicide.
My mind being by these means grown as desperate as my fortune, there was scarce a wickedness which I did not meditate, in order for my relief. Self-murder itself became the subject of my serious deliberation; and I had certainly resolved on it, had not a more shameful, though perhaps less sinful, thought expelled it from my head.
1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| self-murders | Number=Plur | lexicographic |