slay

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See also: Slay

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English sleen, slayn, from Old English slēan (“to strike, beat, smite, stamp, forge, sting, slay, kill, impact”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to fight, strike, kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”).

Cognate with Dutch slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), Low German slaan (“hit, strike”), German schlagen (“to beat, hit, strike”), Danish, Norwegian and Swedish slå (“to knock, beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught.

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

slay (third-person singular simple present slays, present participle slaying, simple past slew or slayed, past participle slain or slayed)

  1. (now literary) To kill, murder.
    The knight slew the dragon.
    Our foes must all be slain.
    • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “[The Historie of Englande.]”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, OCLC 55195564, page 26, columns 1–2:
      In the meane time it chaunced, that Marcus Papyrius ſtroke one of the Galles on the heade with his ſtaffe, because he preſumed to ſtroke his bearde: with whiche iniurie the Gaulle beeing prouoked, ſlue Papyrius (as he ſate) with hys ſworde, and therewith the ſlaughter being begun with one, all the reſidue of thoſe auncient fatherly men as they ſat in theyr Chayres were ſlaine and cruelly murthered.
    • c. 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act II scene i[2]:
      The Prince of Morocco:
      […] By this scimitar,
      That slew the Sophy and a Persian prince
      That won three fields of Sultan Solyman,
      I would outstare the sternest eyes that look,
      Outbrave the heart most daring on earth,
      Pluck the young sucking cubs from the she-bear,
      Yea, mock the lion when he roars for prey,
      To win thee, lady. […]
  2. (literary) To eradicate or stamp out.
    You must slay these thoughts.
  3. (by extension, hyperbolic, colloquial) To defeat, overcome (in a competition or contest).
    • 1956, “Giants Slay Bears in Pro Title Battle”, in Lodi News-Sentinel, 1956 December 31, page 8.
    • 1985, “Redskins slay Giants; Thiesmann shatters leg”, in The Gadsden Times, 1985 November 19, page D1-5.
    • 1993, Jack Curry, “Yanks’ Bullpen Falls Short Again”, in The New York Times, 1993 April 21:
      The Yankees were actually slayed by two former Yankees because Rich Gossage pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley to notch his first victory.
  4. (slang) To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter.
    Ha ha! You slay me!
  5. (slang, transitive, intransitive) To amaze, stun or otherwise incapacitate by awesomeness; to be awesome at something; to kill (slang sense).
  6. (slang) to have sex with
Usage notes[edit]
  • The alternative past tense and past participle form "slayed" is most strongly associated with the slang sense, "to delight or overwhelm":
    Harry Charles Witwer (1929) Yes Man's Land‎[3], page 254: “"Cutey, you slayed me !" grins Jackie, working fast. "I guess that's what made the rest of 'em look so bad — you was so good!"”
  • In recent use, "slayed" is also often found associated with the other senses as well. However, this is widely considered nonstandard.[1]
  • A review of US usage 2000-2009 in COCA suggests that "slayed" is increasing in popularity, but remains less common than "slew". It is very rare in UK usage (BNC).
  • "Slain" has a current usage in newspaper headlines, as being shorter than "murdered".

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster Publishing Co. (1994) , “slay”, in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage‎[1], →ISBN, page 853: “But slayed cannot be considered established in such use. Whether it eventually becomes established remains to be seen.”

Anagrams[edit]

Middle English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From metaphorical usage of Old English slege, from Proto-West Germanic *slagi, from Proto-Germanic *slagiz.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

slay (plural slayes)

  1. A sley or reed (part of a loom).

Descendants[edit]

  • English: sley

References[edit]

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