Category:Slay

Slay, v. t. [imp. Slew; p. p. Slain; p. pr. & vb. n. Slaying.] Etym: [oe. slan, sl, sleen, slee, as. sleán to strike, beat, slay; akin to Ofries. sla, d. slaan, os. & ohg. slahan, g. schlagen, icel. sla, Dan. slaae, sw. sl, goth. slahan; perhaps akin to l. lacerare to tear To pieces, gr. lacerate. Cf. Slaughter, sledge a hammer, sley.]

Defn: to put to death with a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; To put an end to; to destroy. With this sword then will i slay you both. Chaucer. I will slay the last of them with the sword. Amos ix. 1. I'll slay more gazers than the basilisk. Shak.

Syn. -- to kill; murder; slaughter; butcher.