murdered

Everyday

1. Murdered means killed someone on purpose; it is a very serious crime. tree →
2. (informal) Murdered can mean did something very badly, as in «she murdered that song». tree →
3. (slang) «I could murder a cup of tea» means I want one very much; «murdered» in sport slang can mean beaten very badly. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, detective books and history lessons, a murdered person was killed by another on purpose; murder is the worst crime. In everyday talk «murdered» is often used as a joke about bad singing or a heavy defeat. In safety, real violence must be reported to the police. Phrases: was murdered, brutally murdered, murdered a song, got murdered (lost badly).

Examples

• In the story, the old king was murdered by his brother. tree →
• The detective found out who murdered the butler. tree →
• The murdered man's dog led police to the house. tree →
• Dad murdered that song at karaoke! (informal) tree →
• We got murdered 8–0 on Saturday. (slang) tree →
• Macbeth murdered King Duncan in Shakespeare's play. tree →
• I could murder a sandwich. (informal) tree →
• Was not the knight Sir Bugge murdered by wicked people? tree →

Note

Regular verb: murder, murdered. «Murder» means killing on purpose; «manslaughter» is killing without meaning to. The person who murders is a «murderer». The joking uses never mean real killing. In maths sports scores, «murdered 8–0» means won or lost by 8.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means killed unlawfully. The Levite tells how his concubine was murdered at Gibeah.

Interpretation. The story is read as a terrible warning of what happens when there is no king and no law, and everyone does what seems right to him.

Examples

• And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said: 'I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. (Prophets JDG.20.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Regular verb: murder, murdered. «Murder» means killing on purpose; «manslaughter» is killing without meaning to. The person who murders is a «murderer». The joking uses never mean real killing. In maths sports scores, «murdered 8–0» means won or lost by 8.