slay - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Middle English sleen, slen, from Old English slēan (“to hit, punch, strike; to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to hit, strike; to kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”).

Cognates

Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), Luxembourgish schloen (“to beat, defeat, hit”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish slå (“to beat, hit, strike”), Faroese sláa (“to beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to hit, strike”), Gothic 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (slahan, “to hit, smite, strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught.

slay (third-person singular simple present slays, present participle slaying, simple past slew or slayed, past participle slain or slayed or (obsolete) yslain)

  1. (transitive, now literary) To kill; to murder.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:kill
    The knight slew the dragon.
    Our foes must all be slain.
    • 1577, Raphaell Holinshed, “The Historie of Englande”, in The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC, page 26, columns 1–2:
      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”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
      The Prince of Morocco:
      […] By this scimitar,
      That slew 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 have slain one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the heroes of your field gathered in the desert to create a new one."
  2. (transitive, literary) To eradicate or stamp out.
    You must slay these thoughts.
  3. (transitive, by extension, hyperbolic, informal) To defeat; to overcome (in a competition or contest).
    Synonym: conquer
    • 1993 April 21, Jack Curry, “Yanks’ Bullpen Falls Short Again”, in The New York Times:
      The Yankees were actually slayed by two former Yankees because Rich Gossage pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Eckersley to notch his first victory.
  4. (transitive, slang) To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter.
    Synonyms: hit it out of the park, kill
    Ha ha! You slay me!
    • 1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 29:
      He snapped his fingers contemptuously at the alarm clock. "I fear thee not, thou ticking tyrant." "You slay me," grinned Cedric.
  5. (ambitransitive, chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQ slang) To amaze, stun, or otherwise incapacitate by excellence; to excel at something.
    Synonyms: kill, rule; see also Thesaurus:excel
    Your outfit slays!
    • 2023 September 19, Chaise Sanders, “50 Best Halloween Costumes of All Time, From the Classics to the Truly Unique”, in Cosmopolitan‎[2]:
      Movie buffs will love this costume from Beetlejuice. And even if you don't have someone to double team this look with, each costume can easily slay on its own.
  6. (slang) To have sex with.
    Synonyms: coitize, go to bed with, sleep with; see also Thesaurus:copulate with

slay (comparative more slay, superlative most slay)

  1. That slays (in any sense).

slay (plural slays)

  1. (chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQ slang) Something excellent, amazing, or fashionable.
    • 2024 May 12, Tish Weinstock, “This Vintage Lover Is Calling Time On The ’90s Fashion Obsession”, in British Vogue‎[4]:
    • 2024 June 21, Jason P. Frank, “Who Else Needs to Work It Out on a Remix?”, in Vulture‎[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 joint slay. 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

  1. (chiefly African-American Vernacular and LGBTQ slang) Used to express approval or amazement.
    • 2024 October 9, Sam Damshenas, “21 LGBTQ+ horror films to watch this Halloween”, in Gay 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 stars Megan Fox as a cheerleader who becomes possessed by a succubus – a demon who seduces men, kills them and devours their flesh etc. Slay!

See sley

slay (plural slays)

  1. Alternative form of sley[5]

  2. ^ Merriam-Webster Publishing Co. (1994), “slay”, in Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage‎[1], →ISBN, page 853: “But slayed cannot be considered established in such use. Whether it eventually becomes established remains to be seen.”

  3. ^ https://theunisverse.com/2626/showcase/slay/

  4. ^ https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/slay/

  5. ^ https://dailycal.org/2022/06/26/the-origins-of-slay

  6. ^ “slay”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

From metaphorical usage of Old English slege, from Proto-West Germanic *slagi, from Proto-Germanic *slagiz.

slay (plural slayes)

  1. A sley or reed (part of a loom).

slay

  1. (Late Middle English, Early Scots, West Riding) alternative form of sleen