Kill
/kɪl/noun
To cause the death of a person, animal, or other living being.
Did you know?The word 'kill' is deeply rooted in the Old English 'cyllan', which is linked to the concept of sacrifice in ancient pagan rites.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷʰel-
“to be green, to grow, but also to devour or consume.”
Old English
Old English
cyllan
“to strike down or cause to die.”
Middle English
Middle English
killen
“to kill, to execute or slay.”
Modern English
English
kill
“to cause death, to destroy life.”