Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective archaic Intending, or likely to commit murder; bloodthirsty or homicidal.
  • adjective archaic Bloody; violent.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

murther +‎ -ous

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word murtherous.

Examples

  • Soon did the indignant and conscience-stricken Duchess of Bedford hear, in the Sanctuary, that the fell wizard she had saved from the clutches of Bungey was preparing the most dreadful, infallible, and murtherous instruments of war against the possible return of her son-in-law!

    The Last of the Barons — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • Soon did the indignant and conscience-stricken Duchess of Bedford hear, in the Sanctuary, that the fell wizard she had saved from the clutches of Bungey was preparing the most dreadful, infallible, and murtherous instruments of war against the possible return of her son - in-law!

    The Last of the Barons — Volume 11 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • But with all his faults, real and imputed, no single act of that foul and murtherous policy, which made the science of the more fortunate princes of Italy, ever advanced the ambition or promoted the security of the Last of the Roman Tribunes.

    Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • Christians may issue out, and by strong hand pursue their enemies, subdue them, take possession of their Townes, Cities, or Villages, and (in auoyding murtherous tyrannie) to vse the Law of Armes, as in like case among all Nations at this day is vsed: and most especially to the ende they may with securitie holde their lawfull possession, lest happily after the departure of the Christians, such Sauages as haue bene conuerted should afterwards through compulsion and enforcement of their wicked

    The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation. Vol. XIII. America. Part II. Richard Hakluyt 1584

  • 2729: Of murtherous Letchers: and in the mature time,

    King Lear (1623 First Folio Edition) 1623

  • 1771: Stay murtherous villaines, will you kill your brother?

    Titus Andronicus (1623 First Folio Edition) 1623

  • 1717: And set the murtherous Macheuill to Schoole.

    Henry VI, Part Three (1623 First Folio Edition) 1623

  • Oh, you tall young man in the corner there, come and help an English gentleman out of the hands of a murtherous Chaplain. "

    The Strange Adventures of Captain Dangerous, Vol. 2 of 3 Who was a sailor, a soldier, a merchant, a spy, a slave among the moors... George Augustus Sala 1861

  • Rome affords of the old Greek civilization of Italy.) of the mountain, had waved the standard of Marius; and up the road which Adrian's scanty troop slowly wound, had echoed the march of the murtherous Sylla, on his return from the Mithridatic war.

    Rienzi, Last of the Roman Tribunes Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • Alas! "he added mournfully," thy father and mine were united in the same murtherous death, and I think they will smile down on us from their seats in heaven when a happier generation cements that bloody union with a marriage bond! "

    The Last of the Barons — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.