parricide — the crime of killing one's parent or close relative
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the crime of killing one's parent or close relative
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpærɪˌsaɪd/
Example Sentences
- The detective couldn't believe the mild-mannered accountant was accused of parricide.
- In ancient Rome, parricide was punished by being sewn into a sack with animals and thrown into water.
- The psychology student wrote his thesis on the rare phenomenon of parricide in modern society.
parricide
NOUN[/ˈpærɪˌsaɪd/]
the crime of killing one's parent or close relative
Killing one's own parent
From parricide to homicide to suicide - tragedy's cycle
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin parricidium, originally denoting the killing of a fellow citizen of equal status. The meaning later evolved to specifically refer to the murder of one's parent or close relative, reflecting a semantic shift in Roman legal and moral understanding.
Breakdown
parri- (kinsman, relation) + -cidium (killing, murder, from caedere meaning to cut or kill). The compound originally combined the concept of familial relation with the act of homicide.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The detective couldn't believe the mild-mannered accountant was accused of parricide.”
“In ancient Rome, parricide was punished by being sewn into a sack with animals and thrown into water.”
“The psychology student wrote his thesis on the rare phenomenon of parricide in modern society.”
“Even the worst soap opera wouldn't dare include a parricide storyline during dinner time.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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