sanguinary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   involving or accompanied by much bloodshed

   The rebellion ended after a brief but sanguinary battle outside the capital.

2. 2
   adj

   eager to shed blood; cruelly violent or bloodthirsty

   The novel's sanguinary tyrant orders the execution of every suspected rival.

Common collocations

• sanguinary war Adjective + noun

From Middle English sanguinarie, from Latin sanguinarius, relating to blood or bloodshed, from sanguis, blood. The English word developed both a passive sense, marked by bloodshed, and an active one, eager to cause it.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images