Monarchicide: meaning, definitions and examples

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monarchicide

 

[ ˌmɒnəˈraɪsɪd ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political act

Monarchicide refers to the act of killing a monarch. It is a specific type of regicide, which generally denotes the killing of a king or queen. Historically, monarchicide has occurred in various contexts, often associated with political upheaval or revolution.

Synonyms

king-killing, regicide, royal assassination

Examples of usage

  • The revolution led to the monarchicide of the ruling king.
  • Throughout history, monarchicide has been a point of contention.
  • The conspiracy resulted in the monarchicide that shocked the nation.

Word origin

The word 'monarchicide' is derived from the prefix 'mono-' which means single or one, and 'cide', a suffix that originates from the Latin word 'caedere', meaning to kill. The term emerged as political landscapes evolved, particularly during periods of revolutions and changes in ruling powers, where the act of killing a monarch became significant in discussions surrounding governance, authority, and the rights of the people. The etymological roots can be traced back to the Latin and Greek languages, where similar constructs were used to denote the act of killing various types of leaders or influential figures. The usage of the term has varied over centuries, often reflecting the prevailing social and political ideologies of the time.