self-slaughter

English

Alternative forms

• selfslaughter

Etymology

1595, self- +‎ slaughter, possibly taken as a shortening of the phrase against self-slaughter (“slaughter against one's self”). Compare Old English seolfcwala (“suicide”), Old English āgenslaga (“suicide”).

Noun

self-slaughter (plural self-slaughters)

1. The slaughter or slaying of one's self, suicide.

   Against self-slaughter, There is a prohibition so divine, That cravens my weak hand. --Shak., Cymbeline

Synonyms

• suicide

Related terms

• self-slaughtered
• manslaughter