Definition

The feeling of guilt that comes from having caused someone's death or shed blood.

Example

The soldier was haunted by a sense of bloodguiltiness after the battle.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about the concept of bloodguiltiness?

Yeah, it's a heavy idea, especially in stories about revenge.

Right? It makes you consider the consequences of our actions.

Exactly, sometimes the guilt can haunt a person for life.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bloodguiltiness is formed from "blood" (from Old English "blōd", meaning the red liquid that circulates in the body) and "guiltiness" (from Old English "gylt", meaning guilt or sin, combined with the suffix "-ness" which denotes a state or condition). The term refers to the state of being guilty of bloodshed or murder.

Memory Tip

Think of 'blood' as the life force and 'guiltiness' as the state of being guilty — together, they describe the serious condition of being guilty of causing death.

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