murther

American  

[mur-ther] / ˈmɜr ðər /

noun

Obsolete.

1. murder.

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murther British  

/ ˈmɜːðə /

noun

1. an archaic word for murder

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Other Word Forms

• murtherer noun

Etymology

Origin of murther

before 900; Middle English morther, Old English morthor; cognate with Gothic maurthr. See mortal

Example Sentences

It may be hard to believe that he doesn’t know what the word “murther” means in the text — at one point he asks the veteran actor Richard Easton to explain it for him — but his awe at being allowed to read from a First Folio at the Morgan Library & Museum seems genuine.

From New York Times

My lord has told me a secret which Higford, his father's servant, let out to him; and 'tis something so weighty and of so great import, that since he left me my thoughts have been truants from my books, and Monsieur Sebastian, who comes to practice us on the lute, stopped his ears, and cried out that the Signora Contessa had no mercy on him, so to murther his compositions.

From Project Gutenberg

After the reading hereof they also said that according to the truth contained in the same, the three estates of Parliament, called by the King, now present, their whole actions and proceedings from the murther of the late King were ratified and approved to be lawful....

From Project Gutenberg

I tried to spake for to challenge, as was me duty, boys; but oh, Meila Murther!

From Project Gutenberg

"Och! howly murther, I'll not go in where the skelegon is—nary a time!"

From Project Gutenberg