fratricide
/'freitrisaid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of killing one's own brother or sister: This is the primary and most specific meaning, referring to the crime of murdering a sibling.
- A person who kills their own brother or sister: This meaning refers to the individual who commits such an act.
- The accidental killing of one's own forces in a military context: In military terminology, it refers to an attack that causes injury or death to members of one's own or allied forces.
Usage and Examples
- Noun (Act):
- The ancient myth is filled with tales of fratricide.
- He was convicted of fratricide.
- Noun (Person):
- The king was a fratricide who seized the throne.
- Noun (Military):
- The tragedy was classified as a case of fratricide, not enemy fire.
Advanced Usage
- Legal and Historical Context: The term is often used in historical, mythological, and legal discussions to describe a specific, grave familial crime.
- Figurative Use: It can be used metaphorically to describe a destructive conflict between entities that are very close or should be allied.
- The political party was torn apart by an ideological fratricide.
Variants and Related Words
- Fratricidal (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of fratricide.
- The war took on a fratricidal nature.
Synonyms
- Sibling murder: (for the act).
- Kinslayer: (a more general, archaic term for someone who kills a relative).
Related Phrases and Concepts
- "Friendly fire": This is a common modern military synonym for the accidental killing meaning of fratricide.
Noun
- the murder of your sibling
- fire that injures or kills an ally
- a person who murders their brother or sister