infanticide

/in'fæntisaid/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The crime of killing an infant: The act of intentionally causing the death of a very young child, especially one under one year old.
    • A person who kills an infant: An individual who commits the act of infanticide.
Usage and Examples
  • As a crime/act:
    • The ancient law had severe penalties for infanticide.
    • The study examined the historical and social causes of infanticide.
  • As a person:
    • The court convicted the mother as an infanticide.
    • Historical accounts sometimes describe the infanticide as acting under extreme duress.
Advanced Usage and Context
  • Legal and Historical Context: In some historical periods and cultures, infanticide was practiced due to poverty, gender preference, or perceived disability. Modern legal systems treat it as a serious crime, often as a form of murder or manslaughter.
  • In Biology (Zoology): The term can be used to describe the killing of young offspring by an adult of the same species, observed in some animal populations.
    • The researcher documented cases of infanticide among lion prides.
Variants and Related Words
  • Infanticidal (adjective): Having the nature of or relating to infanticide.
    • The court heard evidence of infanticidal intent.
Synonyms
  • Child murder: (General) The killing of a child.
  • Filicide: (More specific) The killing of one's own son or daughter.
Notes on Meaning
  • Specificity: "Infanticide" specifically refers to the killing of an , not an older child. The related term "filicide" is broader, covering the killing of one's child at any age.
  • Connotation: The word carries a strong negative and moral connotation, implying a profound violation of social and natural law.
Noun
  1. murdering an infant
  2. a person who murders an infant