Don't they know English?

[Naomasa298]

Or OJ Simpson an acquitted murderess??

Well now, if we are hyper-pedantic, and we assume that the acquittal means they didn't do it, no one can be an "acquitted murderer/murderess". The acquittal means they didn't do it, so they can't be a murderer/murderess of any kind. They have been acquitted of murder.

I'll take off my pedant hat now.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Well now, if we are hyper-pedantic, and we assume that the acquittal means they didn't do it, no one can be an "acquitted murderer/murderess". The acquittal means they didn't do it, so they can't be a murderer/murderess of any kind. They have been acquitted of murder.

I'll take off my pedant hat now.

No need to apologise for being correct. That's like referring to a scientific theory as "just a theory".

But it is wrong to refer to OJ Simpson (or any man) as a "murderess", acquitted or otherwise. The word "murderess" means "a woman who has committed murder", according to Merriam-Webster and Collins Dictionary.

"Murderer" may be gender-neutral, but "murderess" is not. (Please don't blame me. I'm not making this up, you know!)

 

[Louanne Learning]

I wonder if it matters in what era your story is set? If it is an historical fiction, it might be appropriate to use old-fashioned language?

For example, scoundress for a female scoundrel?

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I don't know if it matters, really. Both Merriam-Webster and Collins say that "murderess" is correct, so ... *shrug*

I wonder why so many people think that "murderess" is outdated, but (say) "laundress" is not. After all, no-one talks about someone being a "launderer".

 

[Rigor Mortis]

I wonder why so many people think that "murderess" is outdated

Reasons have been outlined further upthread.

After all, no-one talks about someone being a "launderer"

Yes. They do. These days it might usually be money that's laundered, but it's still said. In fact, accusing someone of being a money laundress should be considered legitimate grounds for dismissal of charges if you ask me.

 

[Naomasa298]

I've heard of washerwomen, but never washermen.

Stewardess is completely outdated, btw. They're flight attendants.

 

[big soft moose]

According to Mr Google

"The suffix "-ess" in English is a borrowing from French, ultimately originating from the Greek "-ισσα (-issa)". It's used to form feminine nouns from masculine counterparts, such as "waiter" becoming "waitress". Historically, it's been used to denote female individuals or animals, but its usage is now considered old-fashioned in many cases, with gender-neutral terms preferred."

the only ones i can think off that arent dated these days are in animals like lioness

 

[big soft moose]

Apparently, they're now all homiciders.

strictly its not a synonym - murder comes from moerdr, the state of secret and unlawful killing , where as homicide is technically any killing of a human

 

[Rath Darkblade]

According to Mr Google

"The suffix "-ess" in English is a borrowing from French, ultimately originating from the Greek "-ισσα (-issa)". It's used to form feminine nouns from masculine counterparts, such as "waiter" becoming "waitress". Historically, it's been used to denote female individuals or animals, but its usage is now considered old-fashioned in many cases, with gender-neutral terms preferred."

the only ones i can think off that arent dated these days are in animals like lioness

I've heard of it being applied to other animals too, like "tigress". (But strangely, other than lions and tigers, I can't think of any other animal where this applies. Wolfess? Horsess? Bear-ess? No).

Sorry to bring all this up, but English is my second language, so I sometimes wonder about such things. If the -ess usage is considered old-fashioned, then why is the male form (murderer etc.) acceptable? *shrug*

 

[big soft moose]

Because its not a male form... the core word is unisex, its made feminine only by adding the suffix ess

 

[Madman Starryteller]

So the feminine suffix is considered old-fashioned. Fits my usages perfectly as I am becoming old-fashioned.

 

[Naomasa298]

Many animals have a specific term for their male and females. In the case of tigers and lions, they just happen to be tigress and lioness. In some cases, as with tigers and lions, the male is the animal name.

A male dog is a dog, a female is a bitch.
But a male pig is a boar, a female pig is a sow.
A male chicken is a cock, a female a hen. This is also true for peacocks, which are male, peahens are the females.
An unneutered male cat is a tom, a female cat is a queen.
Doe, a deer, a female deer.

 

[JLT]

I've never heard that word used before either.

In 19th century mystery novels, perhaps.