[mur.der] n [partly fr. ME murther, fr. OE morthor; partly fr. ME murdre, fr. OF, of Gmc origin; akin to OE morthor; akin to OHG mord murder, L mort-, mors death, mori to die, mortuus dead, Gk brotos mortal] (bef. 12c) 1: the crime of unlawfully killing a person esp. with malice aforethought
2. a: something very difficult or dangerous "the traffic was ~" b: something outrageous or blameworthy "getting away with ~"
[2]murder vb mur.dered ; mur.der.ing vt (13c) 1: to kill (a human being) unlawfully and with premeditated malice
2: to slaughter wantonly: slay 3 a: to put an end to b: tease, torment c: mutilate, mangle "~s French" d: to defeat badly ~ vi: to commit murder syn see kill