parricide

[ par-uh-sahyd ]

noun

1. the act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
2. a person who commits such an act.

parricide

/ ˈpærɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the act of killing either of one's parents
2. a person who kills his parent

Derived Forms

• ˌparriˈcidal, adjective

Other Words From

• parri·cidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parricide¹

1545–55; < Latin parricīdum act of kin-murder, parricīda kin-killer, equivalent to pāri- (akin to Greek pāós, Attic pēós kinsman) + -cīdum, -cida -cide

Word History and Origins

Origin of parricide¹

C16: from Latin parricīdium murder of a parent or relative, and from parricīda one who murders a relative, from parri- (element related to Greek pēos kinsman) + -cīdium, -cīda -cide

Example Sentences

It is but too true that one fanatic is sufficient for the commission of a parricide, without any accomplice.

From Project Gutenberg

But a fanatical or parricide priest is not incited in this way; heaven is held out to him, and not a woman.

From Project Gutenberg

The boys had too much intelligence and shrewdness not to have judged their father; and to judge a father is moral parricide.

From Project Gutenberg

Now we are asked to allow a tomb-haunter to call a parricide to disclose that which he himself is ignorant of.

From Project Gutenberg

The contemplating a father's death and profiting by the contemplation—it seems a kind of parricide—it is not natural, Randal.

From Project Gutenberg