internecine — Dr Johnson had a hand in changing the use of this word, which its Latin origin shows to mean ‘characterized by great slaughter’. He mistakenly understood the prefix inter to denote reciprocal or mutual action and defined internecine as… … Modern English usage
Internecine — In ter*ne cine, a. [L. internecinus deadly, murderous, fr. internecare to kill, to slaughter; inter between + necare to kill; akin to Gr. ? dead. See {Necromancy}.] 1. Involving, or accompanied by, mutual slaughter; mutually destructive. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
internecine — ► ADJECTIVE 1) destructive to both sides in a conflict. 2) relating to conflict within a group: internecine rivalries. ORIGIN Latin internecinus, from inter among + necare to kill … English terms dictionary
internecine — index deadly, destructive, detrimental, harmful, lethal, noxious Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
internecine — [in΄tər nē′sin, in΄tər nē′sēn΄; ] chiefly Brit [, in΄tərnē′sīn΄] adj. [L internecinus < internecare, to kill, destroy < inter , between + necare, to kill: see NECRO ] 1. Now Rare full of slaughter or destruction 2. deadly or harmful to both … English World dictionary
internecine — in·ter·nec·ine (ĭn′tər nĕs’ēn′, ĭn, nē’sīn′) adj. 1) Of or relating to struggle within a nation, organization, or group. 2) Mutually destructive; ruinous or fatal to both sides. 3) Characterized by bloodshed or carnage. ╂ [Latin internecīnus,… … Word Histories
internecine — adjective /ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn,ˌɪntɚˈnɛsin/ a) Mutually destructive; most often applied to warfare. Internecine strife in Gaza claimed its most senior victim yesterday when militants assassinated one of the most hated security chiefs there. b)… … Wiktionary
internecine — in|ter|ne|cine [ˌıntəˈni:saın US ˌıntərˈni:sən, ˈnesi:n] adj [only before noun] formal [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: internecinus, from internecare to destroy completely , from necare to kill ] internecine fighting or struggles happen… … Dictionary of contemporary English
internecine — [17] Etymologically, internecine denotes ‘attended by great slaughter’. Its modern connotations of ‘conflict within a group’, which can be traced back to the 18th century (Dr Johnson in his Dictionary 1755 defines it as ‘endeavouring mutual… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
internecine — [[t]ɪ̱ntə(r)ni͟ːsaɪn, AM siːn[/t]] ADJ: ADJ n An internecine conflict, war, or quarrel is one which takes place between opposing groups within a country or organization. [FORMAL] The whole episode has drawn attention again to internecine strife… … English dictionary
