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matricide

[ma-tri-sahyd, mey-]
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noun
  1. the act of killing one's mother.
  2. a person who kills his or her mother.
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Origin of matricide

1585–95; < Latin mātricīdium (def 1), mātricīda (def 2); see matri-, -cide
Related formsmat·ri·cid·al, adjective
Can be confusedmatricide parricide patricide
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for matricide

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Absolution to any parricide, matricide, or fratricide, for three ducats.

    Faustus

    Friedrich Maximilian von Klinger

  • Eumenides: The prophet (Apollo) bade thee then become a matricide?

  • Will she go to Rome and accuse me of matricide before the Senate and the people?

    Darkness and Dawn

    Frederic W. Farrar

  • Erinnyes—Ay, rely on dead men's aid, When guilty of matricide!

  • A man may be quietly parasitic upon his mother, and yet incapable of matricide.

    What is Coming?

    H. G. Wells

British Dictionary definitions for matricide

matricide

noun
  1. the act of killing one's own mother
  2. a person who kills his mother
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Derived Formsmatricidal, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from Latin mātrīcīdium (the act), mātrīcīda (the agent). See matri-, -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 matricide

n.

1590s, "action of killing one's mother," from French matricide, from Latin matricida "mother-killer," and matricidium "mother-killing," from comb. form of mater "mother" (see mother (n.1)) + -cida "killer," and -cidium "a killing," from caedere "to slay" (see -cide). Meaning "one who kills his mother" is 1630s. Related: Matricidal (adj.). Old English had moðorslaga "matricide, mother-slayer."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
matricide in Medicine

matricide

(măt′rĭ-sīd′)
n.
  1. The act of killing one's mother.
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Related formsmat′ri•cid′al (-sīd′l) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.