FromMiddle Englishsleen,slayn, fromOld Englishslēan(“to strike, beat, smite, stamp, forge, sting, slay, kill, impact”), fromProto-West Germanic*slahan, fromProto-Germanic*slahaną(“to fight, strike, kill”), fromProto-Indo-European*slak-(“to hit, strike, throw”).
Cognate withDutchslaan(“to beat, hit, strike”),Low Germanslaan(“hit, strike”),Germanschlagen(“to beat, hit, strike”),Danish,Norwegian andSwedishslå(“to knock, beat, strike”),Icelandicslá(“to strike”). Related toslaughter,onslaught.
slay (third-person singular simple presentslays,present participleslaying,simple pastsleworslayed,past participleslainorslayedor(obsolete)yslain)
- (transitive, now literary) Tokill; tomurder.
- Synonyms:seeThesaurus:kill
The knightslew the dragon.
Our foes must all beslain.
1577,Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, inThe Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison,→OCLC,page26, columns1–2: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.1596–1598 (date written),William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward] Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act II, scene i]:The Prince of Morocco:
[…]By this scimitar,
Thatslew 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.[…]
2015 May 4,Randall Munroe,xkcd (webcomic),Degree-Off:"This is a graph of the death rate from infectious disease in this country. The heroes of my field haveslain one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the heroes ofyour field gathered in the desert to create a new one."
- (transitive, literary) Toeradicate orstamp out.
You mustslay these thoughts.
- (transitive, by extension, hyperbolic, informal) Todefeat; toovercome (in a competition or contest).
- Synonym:conquer
1993 April 21, Jack Curry, “Yanks’ Bullpen Falls Short Again”, inThe New York Times:The Yankees were actuallyslayed by two former Yankees because Rich Gossage pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley to notch his first victory.
- (transitive, slang) Todelight oroverwhelm, especially withlaughter.
- Synonyms:hit it out of the park,kill
Ha ha! Youslay me!
1971,Richard Carpenter,Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page29:He snapped his fingers contemptuously at the alarm clock. "I fear thee not, thou ticking tyrant." "Youslay me," grinned Cedric.
- (ambitransitive, chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQslang) Toamaze,stun, or otherwise incapacitate byexcellence; toexcel at something.
- Synonyms:kill,rule;see alsoThesaurus:excel
Your outfitslays!
2023 September 19, Chaise Sanders, “50 Best Halloween Costumes of All Time, From the Classics to the Truly Unique”, inCosmopolitan[2]:Movie buffs will love this costume fromBeetlejuice. And even if you don't have someone to double team this look with, each costume can easilyslay on its own.
- (slang) Tohave sex with.
- Synonyms:coitize,go to bed with,sleep with;see alsoThesaurus:copulate with
- 2015Sexual Harassment in Education and Work Settings: Current Research and Best Practices for Prevention
- The Online Slang Dictionary offers nearly 200 words referring to sexual intercourse. Many of the terms and phrases connote violence, such as: “bang,” “beat,” “chopped up,” “cut,” “hit,” “hit raw,” “hit that,” “kick it,” “nail,” “pound,” “ram,” “slap and tickle,” “slay,” “smack,” “smash,” and “spank”
- The alternative past tense and past participle form "slayed" is most strongly associated with the various slang senses:
- Harry Charles Witwer (1929)Yes Man's Land[3], page254: “"Cutey, youslayed 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".
- "Slay" being used as a term to describe someone who acts, dresses, or is fashionable and flawless has its roots inLGBTQ+ball culture.[2][3][4]
to kill, murder
- Arabic:قَتَلَ (ar)(qatala),أَزْهَقَ رُوحَهُ(ʔazhaqa rūḥahu),ذَبَحَ(ḏabaḥa)
- Armenian:սպանել (hy)(spanel)
- Belarusian:забіва́ць (be) impf(zabivácʹ),забі́ць (be) pf(zabícʹ)
- Bulgarian:убивам (bg)(ubivam)
- Catalan:matar (ca),assassinar (ca)
- Chinese:
- Mandarin:殺 /杀 (zh)(shā),謀殺 /谋杀 (zh)(móushā),殘殺 /残杀 (zh)(cánshā)
- Danish:dræbe (da)
- Dutch:doden (nl),vermoorden (nl)
- Egyptian: (smꜣ)
- Finnish:tappaa (fi),surmata (fi)
- French:tuer (fr),assassiner (fr),occire (fr)
- German:töten (de),umbringen (de),erschlagen (de)
- Greek:σκοτώνω (el)(skotóno)
- Ancient:ἀποκτείνω(apokteínō)
- Hebrew:רָצַח (he)(raṣáḥ)
- Hungarian:öl (hu)
- Icelandic:bana (is)
- Ido:ocidar (io)
- Ingrian:tappaa,mukistaa,leikata,surmata
- Italian:uccidere (it),assassinare (it)
- Japanese:殺す (ja)(korosu)
- Latin:occīdō (la),interficiō (la),necō (la),lētō (la)
- Latvian:kaut (lv)
- Lithuanian:nužudyti
- Occitan:tuar (oc),matar (oc),assassinar (oc),aucir (oc)
- Portuguese:matar (pt),assassinar (pt)
- Romanian:omorî (ro),ucide (ro),asasina (ro)
- Russian:(perfective)уби́ть (ru)(ubítʹ),(imperfective)убива́ть (ru)(ubivátʹ)
- Sanskrit:हन्ति (sa)(hanti)
- Spanish:matar (es),asesinar (es)
- Swedish:dräpa (sv),slå ihjäl (sv)
- Tagalog:patayin,paslangin
- Tocharian B:kau-
- Tok Pisin:kilim
|
Translations to be checked
slay (pluralslays)
- (chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQslang) Somethingexcellent,amazing, orfashionable.
2024 May 12, Tish Weinstock, “This Vintage Lover Is Calling Time On The ’90s Fashion Obsession”, inBritish Vogue[4]:
2024 June 21, Jason P. Frank, “Who Else Needs to Work It Out on a Remix?”, inVulture[5]:“Let’s work it out on a remix” can be applied to many situations. It’s a public truce under the guise of a jointslay. A bride is making unreasonable demands of her wedding party and the maid of honor might quit? They should work it out on a remix (establish a budget).
slay
- (chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQslang)Used to expressapproval oramazement.
2024 October 9, Sam Damshenas, “21 LGBTQ+ horror films to watch this Halloween”, inGay Times[6]:Despite its dismal performance at the box office,Jennifer’s Body has become a cult favourite – particularly amongst queer women. The horror-comedy starsMegan Fox as a cheerleader who becomes possessed by a succubus – a demon who seduces men, kills them and devours their flesh etc.Slay!
Seesley
slay (pluralslays)
- Alternative form ofsley[5]
From metaphorical usage ofOld Englishslege, fromProto-West Germanic*slagi, fromProto-Germanic*slagiz.
slay (pluralslayes)
- Asley or reed(part of a loom).
, Oxford:Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
