from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Kill \Kill\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Killed} (k[i^]ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Killing}.] [OE. killen, kellen, cullen, to kill,
strike; perh. the same word as cwellen, quellen, to kill (cf.
{Quell}), or perh. rather akin to Icel. kolla to hit in the
head, harm, kollr top, summit, head, Sw. kulle, D. kollen to
kill with the ax.]
1. To deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or
by any means; to render inanimate; to put to death; to
slay.
[1913 Webster]
Ah, kill me with thy weapon, not with words !
--Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. To destroy; to ruin; as, to kill one's chances; to kill
the sale of a book. "To kill thine honor." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Her lively color kill'd with deadly cares. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. To cause to cease; to quell; to calm; to still; as, in
seamen's language, a shower of rain kills the wind; new
sound insultation killed the loud noises from outside.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Be comforted, good madam; the great rage,
You see, is killed in him. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. To destroy the effect of; to counteract; to neutralize;
as, alkali kills acid.
[1913 Webster]
5. To waste or spend unprofitably; -- usually used of time;
as, he killed an hour waiting for the doctor to see him.
[PJC]
6. To cancel or forbid publication of (a report, article,
etc.), after it has been written; as, they killed the
article after getting threats of a lawsuit.
[PJC]
{To kill time}, to busy one's self with something which
occupies the attention, or makes the time pass without
tediousness.
Syn: To murder; assassinate; slay; butcher; destroy. -- To
{Kill}, {Murder}, {Assassinate}. To kill does not
necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life. A man
may kill another by accident or in self-defense, without
the imputation of guilt. To murder is to kill with
malicious forethought and intention. To assassinate is
to murder suddenly and by stealth. The sheriff may kill
without murdering; the duelist murders, but does not
assassinate his antagonist; the assassin kills and
murders.