murder
Definitions
The crime of deliberately and unlawfully killing another person
谋杀（罪）
To kill someone deliberately and unlawfully
蓄意非法杀害；谋杀
Root Breakdown
Native Englishmurder is a native English word (Old English morthor, Germanic *murþ-), not a Latin borrowing. But it traces back to the very same Proto-Indo-European root *mer- ('to die') that gave Latin mors its mort- family. So murder is a Germanic cousin of mortal — same ancient source, different route into English.
Root mort still carries 24 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.commit murder犯谋杀罪
- 2.murder case谋杀案
- 3.murder weapon凶器
- 4.attempted murder谋杀未遂
- 5.first-degree murder一级谋杀
Example Sentences
- 1.
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- 2.
The detective was certain someone had murdered the old man.
- 3.
The novel opens with a brutal murder in a quiet village.
Easily Confused
murder vs kill vs manslaughter — kill is the broadest (illness, war, accident can all kill). murder is specifically the deliberate, unlawful killing of a person — intent is essential. manslaughter is unlawful killing without that premeditated intent (e.g. a reckless act). You can kill in self-defence, but you cannot murder in self-defence.