-cide

a learned borrowing from Latin meaning “killer,” “act of killing,” used in the formation of compound words:
pesticide, homicide.

-cide

combining form

indicating a person or thing that kills
insecticide
indicating a killing; murder
homicide

–cide

A suffix that means “a killer of.” It is used to form the names of chemicals that kill a specified organism, such as pesticide, a chemical that kills pests.

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Derived Forms

-cidal, combining_form:in_adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of -cide¹

late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin -cīda “killer,” -cīdium “act of killing,” derivatives of caedere “to strike, beat, cut down, kill” (in compounds -cīdere )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of -cide¹

from Latin -cīda (agent), -cīdium (act), from caedere to kill

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Example Sentences

Je devise a ma joefne fille Isabel Bardolf en cide de lui marier un hanap plat door.

From Project Gutenberg

Den when I 'cide to marry Bob Thomas, she he'p me fix a hope ches'.

From Project Gutenberg

He never did force any of us to go to church, if we didn't want to, dat was left to us to 'cide.

From Project Gutenberg

There was once a rich old man who was called the Bar-me-cide.

From Project Gutenberg

If you don't 'cide pretty quick, I'll put a big rock a-top o' you, an' stop fer you answer when I come back in de ebenin'.'

From Project Gutenberg

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