slay
verb (used with object)
to kill by violence.
had slain
-
past perfectof slay.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His predecessor, Paul Volcker, had slain double-digit inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
The missing child was found unharmed nearby, next to the body of a wolf that Gelert had slain.
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2022
This artillery, equipped on the ships of the Iron Fleet, had slain one dragon and deterred further immediate attacks.
From Slate ● May 13, 2019
The organization is named for the ball of string that Ariadne gave to Theseus to guide him out of the Labyrinth, after he had slain the Minotaur.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 13, 2019
He returned years later pretending to be a man who had slain Aepytus and was kindly received therefore by Polyphontes.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
