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murderess

murderess

7 6.9
A woman who kills another person on purpose
  • noun
  • /ˈmɜrdərɪs/
  • NSFW
translation icon : asesina
  • In the courtroom, the jury listened intently as the prosecutor detailed the actions of the murderess.
  • witches and murderesses

Examples

  • Are you sure you don't mind a murderess sleeping on your couch?

  • Do you think he could love a murderess?

  • You have made a murderess of me.

  • How does it feel to be a murderess?

  • My son is not going to marry the daughter of a murderess.

  • The most affectionate woman I ever knew was a murderess.

  • To begin with, we have the very simple and obvious fact - that Mrs. Paradine is not a murderess.

  • The Count's angel turned out to be a murderess who escaped the Executioner's blade.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Ina is curious, though, about how the murderess and her mother-in-law get along, as they seem to be on the best of terms.

    Academic text (2016)
  • She was a liar, a witch, and a murderess, but she dazzled you as she did me, and I forgive you.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

killer
vsmurderess
  • NSFW
1.9

A person or animal that makes another living thing die on purpose

refers specifically to a woman who committed unlawful killing
murderer
vsmurderess
  • NSFW
946 3.4

A person who illegally kills another person on purpose

is the female form of that role
hit woman
vsmurderess
  • NSFW
1 9.1

A woman who is paid to kill people, often using a gun

is broader, applying to any woman who has committed murder
sicarius
vsmurderess
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who kills someone on purpose

is the same idea but specifies a woman who did this
hitwoman
vsmurderess
  • NSFW
9.9

A woman who is paid to kill someone, often using a gun

is broader, covering any woman who committed killing

Surface Forms

murderess singular
murderesses plural

Morphology

murderess = murder (transparent) = murder + ess

The meaning is directly derived from 'murder' with the feminine/person-forming suffix '-ess', so learners who know both can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Murderess is made from murder and the ending -ess, where -ess means 'woman', as in actress or waitress, so it means a woman who has committed murder.