noun
patricide
PAT-rih-side/ˈpætrɪsaɪd/
The killing of one's own father.
The grown son commits patricide by killing the father who raised him.
Etymology
French patricide already named both the father-killer and the act; this sense selects the act. Its deeper derivation from Latin elements meaning 'father' and 'killing' is presumed rather than securely attested.
In context
foreign kids might blame their parents for their unhappiness but page crossed a line she committed patricide which isn't as uncommon as you may want to believe
More examples
- The novel ends with a son's trial for patricide.
- She studies cases of patricide for her psychology class.
- The report compares two patricides committed decades apart.
Forms
patricide · patricides
patricidal adjective — Relating to killing one's own father.
Similar words
- parricide
- Includes killing either parent, not only one's father.
- homicide
- Covers the killing of any person, not specifically one's father.