Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Killed, especially violently: Describes someone or something that has been killed, often in a violent manner such as in battle. This usage is formal or literary.
   • Example: The slain warriors were honored in a solemn ceremony.

2. Noun (plural):

   • People who have been killed: Refers collectively to people who have been killed, typically in a violent context like a battle or massacre.
   • Example: The memorial lists the names of the slain.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The legend tells of a hero and the slain dragon.
  • Forensic teams examined the bodies of the slain hostages.

• Noun:

  • The general mourned for his slain.
  • They built a monument to remember the slain of the war.

Advanced Usage

• "The slain" as a collective noun: Often used with the definite article "the" to refer to a specific group of killed people.
  • The poem is a tribute to the slain of that tragic day.

Variants and Related Words

• Slay (verb): To kill violently or in great numbers. (Past tense: slew; Past participle: slain)
  • The knight vowed to slay the beast.

Synonyms

• Killed
• Murdered
• Massacred
• Fallen (often used for soldiers)

Related Phrases

• "Slain in action": A formal phrase meaning killed while fighting, typically used for soldiers.
  • He was listed as slain in action.

Adjective

1. killed; `slain' is formal or literary as in "slain warriors"
   • a picture of St. George and the slain dragon

Noun

1. people who have been slain (as in battle)