ett mord
murder
När en person medvetet tar livet av en annan människa på ett olagligt sätt.
Definition & meaning
The word mord refers to the intentional and unlawful killing of another human being. In a legal context in Sweden, it specifically denotes the most serious form of homicide, usually characterized by premeditation or extreme cruelty. It is distinguished from other forms of killing, such as dråp (manslaughter), which is considered less severe due to the circumstances of the act.
In a figurative sense, the word can sometimes be used to describe the "killing" or destruction of something non-living, such as karaktärsmord (character assassination).
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar: Mord is a neuter noun (ett-word). It follows a common pattern for neuter nouns ending in a consonant where the indefinite plural form is the same as the singular.
- Singular indefinite: mord (a murder)
- Singular definite: mordet (the murder)
- Plural indefinite: mord (murders)
- Plural definite: morden (the murders)
Word origin: The word descends from the Old Norse morð, which stems from the Proto-Germanic murþą. It is cognate with the English word "murder" and the German word "Mord". Historically, in ancient Germanic law, a distinction was made between a "killing" done openly and a morð, which was a secret killing or a killing involving concealment of the body, which was considered much more dishonorable.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- dråp (manslaughter; a less serious form of intentional killing)
- dödande (killing; a more general term for taking a life)
- lönnmord (assassination; a secret or surprise murder, often of a public figure)
- avrättning (execution; a killing carried out as a legal penalty)
- banesår (death blow; literally a wound that causes death)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Polisen undersöker mord i staden.noun
The police are investigating a murder in the city.
En man pratade tyst om mord som hade hänt nära skolan.noun
A man spoke quietly about a murder that had happened near the school.
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