Slaughter Meaning
/ˈslɔːtə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe killing of animals, generally for food.
nounA massacre; the killing of a large number of people.
Sentence Examples
The slaughter of the prisoners was a barbarous act.
Slaughter is the best medicine.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The butcher will ____ the cows for the market using a sharp knife.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient army was warned that a continued conflict would only lead to senseless ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English slaughter, from Old Norse *slahtr, later sláttr, from Proto-Germanic *slahtrą, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną. Equivalent to slay + -ter (as in laughter). Eventually derived from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”). Related with Dutch slachten, German schlachten, Finnish lahdata (all “to slaughter”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] I ſee
Th’ Inſulting Tyrant prancing o’er the Field
Strow’d with Rome’s Citizens, and drench’d in Slaughter,
His Horſe’s Hoofs wet with Patrician Blood."
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, pages 1-2:
"There was a massive slaughter of W.R. steam power at the conclusion of the summer timetable. In all, 169 locomotives were condemned."
— 1962 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Modern Railways, page 425:
"Hurriedly he snatched up others, one or two at a time, until he had slaughtered thirty of Hrothgar's doughtiest earls."
— 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 21:
"Therefore cheere vp your mindes, prepare to fight,
He that can take or ſlaughter Tamburlaine,
Shall rule the Prouince of Albania."
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The butcher will ____ the cows for the market using a sharp knife.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ancient army was warned that a continued conflict would only lead to senseless ____.