different between bloodshed vs bloody

English

Alternative forms

• bloudshed (obsolete)

Etymology

From attested early forms of such phrases as "there was much blood shed"; equivalent to blood +? shed, past participle of shed.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bl?d???d/

Noun

bloodshed (usually uncountable, plural bloodsheds)

1. (literally) The shedding or spilling of blood.
2. A slaughter; destruction of life, notably on a large scale.
3. (obsolete) The shedding of one's own blood; specifically, the death of Christ.
4. (obsolete) A bloodshot condition or appearance; an effusion of blood in the eye.

Synonyms

• bloodletting
• bloodbath, carnage

Related terms

• bloodshedder
• bloodshedding

Translations

References

Further reading

• bloodshed in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• shed blood

English

Alternative forms

• bloudy (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From Middle English blody, blodi, from Old English bl?di?, bl?de? (“bloody”), from Proto-Germanic *bl?þagaz (“bloody”), equivalent to blood +? -y. Cognate with Dutch bloedig (“bloody”), German blutig (“bloody”), Danish blodig (“bloody”), Swedish blodig (“bloody”), Icelandic blóðugur (“bloody”). See Wikipedia for thoughts on sense evolution.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?bl?.di/
• Rhymes: -?di

Adjective

bloody (comparative bloodier, superlative bloodiest)

1. Covered in blood.

   Synonyms: bleeding, bloodied, gory, sanguinolent
2. Characterised by bloodshed.
   • 2007, Lucinda Mallows, Lucy Mallows, Slovakia: The Bradt Travel Guide, page 169

     The story of Elizabeth Bathory is one of the bloodiest in history.

3. (rare in US, Canada, common in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, slang) Used as an intensifier.
   • 1916 May 31, David Beatty during the Battle of Jutland:

     There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today.

   • 2003, Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, page 64

     You are not to go asking anyone about who killed that bloody dog.

   • 2007, James MacFarlane, Avenge My Kin, Book 2: A Time of Testing, page 498

     “You bloody fool, I could?ve stabbed you in the heart,” David said in mock anger, and then smiled widely.

4. (dated) Badly behaved; unpleasant; beastly.

Synonyms

• (intensifier): bally, blasted, bleeding (chiefly British Cockney), blinking, blooming, damn, damned, dang, darned, doggone, flaming, freaking, fricking, frigging, fucking, goddam / goddamn, goddamned, godforsaken (rare), wretched, rotten
• See also Thesaurus:damned

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

bloody (comparative more bloody, superlative most bloody)

1. (rare in US, Canada, common in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, slang, intensifier) Used to express anger, annoyance, shock, or for emphasis.

   Synonyms: bloody well, bally, blasted, bleeding, blooming

Translations

Verb

bloody (third-person singular simple present bloodies, present participle bloodying, simple past and past participle bloodied)

1. To draw blood from one's opponent in a fight.
2. To demonstrably harm the cause of an opponent.

Translations

Etymology 2

Clipping of bloody mary

Noun

bloody (plural bloodies)

1. (casual) bloody mary

Anagrams

• old boy