vaticide

[ vat-uh-sahyd ]

noun

1. a person who murders a prophet.
2. the act of killing a prophet.

vaticide

/ ˈvætɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. rare.
   1. the murder of a prophet
   2. a person guilty of this

Word History and Origins

Origin of vaticide¹

1720–30; < Latin vāti- (stem of vātēs seer) + -cide

Word History and Origins

Origin of vaticide¹

C18: from Latin vātēs prophet + -cide

Example Sentences

Vaticide, vat′i-sīd, n. the killing of a prophet: one who kills a prophet.

From Project Gutenberg

Fuller, when he used 'to avunculize,' meaning to tread in the footsteps of one's uncle, scarcely proposed it as a lasting addition to the language; as little did Pope intend more than a very brief existence for 'vaticide,' or Cowper for 'extra- foraneous,' or Carlyle for 'gigmanity,' for 'tolpatchery,' or the like.

From Project Gutenberg