slay / slew / slain / slayed

The past forms of slay.

For kill, the past is slew and the past participle is slain, after forms of have and forms of be: The knight slew the dragon. The dragon was slain. Slayed is informal for impressed in talk about performances. Do not use slayed for a killing.

Examples

UseThe hunter slew the wolf.

UseThe wolf was slain.

AvoidThe hunter slayed the wolf.