fratricide

[ fra-tri-sahyd, frey- ]

/ ˈfræ trɪˌsaɪd, ˈfreɪ- /

noun

a person who kills his or her brother.

the act of killing one's brother.

Nearby words

fraternity, fraternity house, fraternization, fraternize, fratricidal, fratricide, fratry, frau, fraud, fraud squad, fraudster

Origin of fratricide

1490–1500; (def 1) < Middle French < frātricīda, equivalent to frātri- (combining form of frāter) brother + -cīda -cide; (def 2) < Middle French < Late Latin frātricīdium, equivalent to frātricīd(a) + -ium noun suffix

Related formsfrat·ri·cid·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fratricide

Hillary Rodham Clinton must be reveling in the latest round of Republican fratricide.
How to Beat Hillary: End the Republican Fratricide|Lloyd Green|August 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After a parricide, a fratricide was nothing to him, and he executed it with a Machiavellism full of atrocious precautions.
The Rebel Chief|Gustave Aimard
One son had been killed in her arms by the other; and now the fratricide had fallen by the assassin's weapon.
Roman Women|Alfred Brittain
The stern and frightful judgment is here expressed that the unloving person is no better than Cain the fratricide.
Epistle Sermons, Vol. III|Martin Luther

Not that it signifies in the least in Nepaul whether a man is a fratricide or prefers making away with more distant relatives.
A Journey to Katmandu|Laurence Oliphant
Samuel was a true penitent as ever was turned off for fratricide at Newgate.
The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. II (2 vols)|Thomas De Quincey

British Dictionary definitions for fratricide

fratricide

/ (ˈfrætrɪˌsaɪd, ˈfreɪ-) /

noun

the act of killing one's brother

a person who kills his brother

military the destruction of or interference with a nuclear missile before it can strike its target caused by the earlier explosion of a warhead at a nearby target

Derived Formsfratricidal, adjective

Word Origin for fratricide

C15: from Latin frātricīda; see frater 1, -cide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fratricide

fratricide

mid-15c., "person who kills a brother;" 1560s, "act of killing a brother," from Latin fratricida "brother-slayer," from frater "brother" (see brother) + cida "killer," or cidum "a killing," both from caedere "to kill, to cut down" (see -cide). Among several Old English words for this were broðorbana "one who kills a brother;" broðorcwealm "act of killing a brother."