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# slay

verb (slay, slays, slew, slain; slaying; slang: slayed)

«slay» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (old, literary) To kill violently, especially in battle or a story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#m1)
2. (slang) To do something brilliantly or look amazing: «You slayed that dance!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#m2)
3. (informal) To make someone laugh a lot: «That joke slays me.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#m3)

### In the lessons

In fairy tales and the Bible: knights slay dragons; David slew Goliath. In children's slang today, «slay» means do amazingly. Phrases: «slay the dragon», «you slay», «slayed it».

### Examples

- The knight set off to slay the dragon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x1)
- In the Bible, David slew the giant Goliath. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x2)
- You slayed that song at the talent show! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x3)
- Her costume totally slays. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x4)
- That cartoon slays me every time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x5)
- Many soldiers were slain in the battle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x6)
- "Do not slay me," he said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/#x7)

### Note

Two past forms: old sense «slew, slain»; slang sense «slayed». Do not confuse with «sleigh» (sledge pulled by reindeer) — same sound.

## In Jewish tradition

In fairy tales and the Bible: knights slay dragons; David slew Goliath. In children's slang today, «slay» means do amazingly. Phrases: «slay the dragon», «you slay», «slayed it».

### Examples

- Behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.' — (Torah EXO.4.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x1)
- Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. (Torah EXO.2.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x2)
- Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. (Torah DEU.27.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x3)
- The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. (Writings PSA.37.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x4)
- They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. (Writings PSA.94.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x5)
- He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him. (Writings JOB.20.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/#x6)

### Note

Two past forms: old sense «slew, slain»; slang sense «slayed». Do not confuse with «sleigh» (sledge pulled by reindeer) — same sound.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «slay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«slay» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slay.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «slay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/slay/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«slay» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/slay.html) on Mova free.