self-murder

English

Etymology

From self- +‎ murder, perhaps continuing Middle English *self-murther, from Old English selfmyrþere (“one who kills himself, a suicide”). Compare German Selbstmord, Dutch zelfmoord, Swedish självmord.

Noun

self-murder (countable and uncountable, plural self-murders)

1. Suicide.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:

     My mind being by these means grown as desperate as my fortune, there was scarce a wickedness which I did not meditate, in order for my relief. Self-murder itself became the subject of my serious deliberation; and I had certainly resolved on it, had not a more shameful, though perhaps less sinful, thought expelled it from my head.