bloodthirsty
UK[ˈblʌdˌθɜːsti]US[ˈblʌdˌθɜːrsti]
adj
Eager to kill or see violence and bloodshed; characterized by a desire for extreme violence.
Morpheme Breakdown
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Etymology
The word 'bloodthirsty' is a transparent compound formed within the Germanic branch of English. Its first element, 'blood', descends from the Proto-Germanic blōþam, a word of uncertain ultimate origin. The second element, 'thirsty', originates from the Old English 'þurstig', literally meaning 'suffering from thirst'. The compound's logic is vividly metaphorical: it describes a person whose 'thirst' is not for water but for the sight and spillage of 'blood', implying an insatiable craving for violence. This powerful imagery, combining two concrete bodily concepts ('blood' and 'thirst') to create an abstract psychological state, has been a potent descriptor for savage cruelty since its appearance in Middle English.
Analysis
Structure: blood (blood) + thirsty (thirsty)
- blood: From Old English 'blōd', of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'bloed' and German 'Blut'. It functions as a noun root denoting the red liquid in the body.
- thirsty: From Old English 'þurstig', from 'þurst' (thirst) + '-ig' (adjective-forming suffix). It functions as an adjective meaning having a strong desire for a drink. In this compound, its sense is extended metaphorically.
Examples
The villain in the story was a bloodthirsty tyrant who ruled through fear.
The film was criticized for its gratuitous and bloodthirsty violence.
The general was accused of being bloodthirsty, launching attacks with little regard for civilian casualties.