internecine

[ in-ter-nee-seen, -sahyn, -nes-een, -nes-ahyn ]
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adjective
  1. of or relating to conflict or struggle within a group: an internecine feud among proxy holders.

  2. mutually destructive.

  1. characterized by great slaughter; deadly.

Origin of internecine

1
1655–65; <Latin internecīnus, internecīvus murderous, equivalent to internec(āre) to kill out, exterminate (inter-inter- + necāre to kill) + -īnus-ine1, -īvus-ive
  • Also in·ter·ne·cive [in-ter-nee-siv, -nes-iv]. /ˌɪn tɛrˈni sɪv, -ˈnɛs ɪv/.

Words Nearby internecine

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British Dictionary definitions for internecine

internecine

/ (ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn) /


adjective
  1. mutually destructive or ruinous; maiming both or all sides: internecine war

  2. of or relating to slaughter or carnage; bloody

  1. of or involving conflict within a group or organization

Origin of internecine

1
C17: from Latin internecīnus, from internecāre to destroy, from necāre to kill

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