absol. To commit slaughter or murder.

Slaughter. Chiefly in to make martyrdom. Also figurative. Obsolete.

absol. To cause death or slaughter. Frequently contrasted with save, spare, etc. Obsolete.

Torment; extreme suffering; slaughter (frequently in to make martyre). Cf. martyrdom, n. 2 3.

transitive. To destroy (a target, etc.) to a greater extent than is necessary or desirable. Also figurative. Also (occasionally) intransitive.