suicidal, a.
(s(j)uːɪˈsaɪdəl)
[f. suicide n.2 + -al1.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or involving suicide or self-slaughter; (of persons) having a tendency to suicide.
| 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. iii. iv, With such weapons, homicidal and suicidal. 1849 J. W. Warter Southey's Comm.-pl. Bk. 252 A Suicidal Maniac through Religious Melancholy. 1855 Dunglison Med. Lex., Suicidal Insanity. 1886 Fagge Princ. Med. I. 741 Patients affected with this form of melancholia show suicidal tendencies. |
2. fig. Leading to or involving self-destruction; destructive or fatal to those engaged.
| 1777 Hamilton Wks. (1886) VII. 529 'Tis only..misapplying men to employ them in a suicidal parade against New York. 1804 Ann. Rev. II. 234 The Rockingham administration, in every thing a suicidal party, had set aside this right. 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! xx, The Spaniards, by some suicidal pedantry, had allowed their navy to be crippled. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 35 Though victory makes men insolent and is often suicidal to the victors, education is never suicidal. |
Hence
suiˈcidalism = suicidism;
suiˈcidally adv., in a suicidal manner; so as to bring destruction or ruin on the actor;
suiˈcidalwise adv., suicidally.
| 1833 Lytton England i. iii. 48 This gaiety of *suicidalism is not the death à la mode with us. |
| 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. iii. i. vii, A Soldiery, which we saw long since fallen all *suicidally out of square. 1841 Emerson Misc. (1855) 245 Whatever they attempt..reacts suicidally on the actor himself. 1891 Times 21 Dec. 9/4 To reside in Italy meant to run almost suicidally the risk of a malarial attack. |
| 1859 W. Anderson Disc. Ser. ii. (1860) 73 You..will not permit its aspirations to have scope and expression; but *suicidalwise, suffocate them. |