father-slayer

English

Alternative forms

• fatherslayer, father slayer

Etymology

From Middle English fadyr slaer, fadur sleer, equivalent to father +‎ slayer.

Noun

father-slayer (plural father-slayers)

1. (uncommon) One who kills or murders one's father; a patricide
   • 1952, William Daniel Simpson, The Creation of the Role of Christy in John M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World, and an Analysis of the Acting Problems Involved:

     Christy Mahon was the factor which destroyed the equilibrium of the lives of the Flaugherty's and Villagers, because he was an alleged fatherslayer.

   • 1993, Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, Freud's Moses: Judaism Terminable and Interminable, page 63:

     In these aspects the relationship seems almost to follow an archetype of the relations between immigrant Jewish fathers and their talented sons in modern times. All such sons have been, in a sense, father-slayers.

   • 2010, Angus Wells, Dark Magic: The Godwars:

     His eyes moved to Calandryll, once more asking an unspoken question. Bracht grinned conspiratorially, answering: “In a while ... He will post Calandryll outlaw, claiming him a father-slayer.”

   • 2014, Marios Koutsoukos, Apolysis: Apocalypse Is Just The Beginning:

     “Calm yourself, brother. I'm merely having a drink here, nothing more. I assumed you had similar intentions... I guess you're out hunting though!” Michael bared his runesword. “I am. Prepare for judgment Father-slayer!”

   • 2014, Laini Taylor, Dreams of Gods & Monsters:

     The magus called Beast's Bane, who drew down sirithar and so could not be permitted to live, and who was a bastard and a warrior and a father-slayer, was also, impossibly, Stelian.

   • 2015, C. J. Cherryh, The Complete Morgaine:

     “And if it is not Roh who gives the orders,” Kithan said, “if it is Hetharu, what shall I say, Man?” “I do not know,” Vanye said. “But a father-slayer will hardly stick at brother-killing; and he will share nothing with you . . . not unless he loves you well.