这些单词均可用于指杀害自己的亲人的行为。其中，parricide 是指杀害自己的近亲属， 特指杀害自己的亲父或亲母（the act of killing a close relative, esp. a parent)[1](注意的是在有些法律词典上该单词的定义只是“杀父罪”[2]，Black's Law Dictionary 第6版上的定义也如此[3]，只是在第7版时才做了修正）。parenticide 是指谋杀自己的生父或生母的行为（the act of murdering one's parent)[4]。而 patricide 则仅指杀害自己的父亲（act of killing one's own father)[5] 。matricide则是指杀害母亲的犯罪行为 (act of killing one's own mother)[6] 。

[1] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1141 , West Group (1999). “ The act of murdering his or her mother or father ”，Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 96 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

[2]“The murder of a father. ”Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 747, Thomson Professional Publishing Canada (1991).

[3]“The crime of killing one's father. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 771, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).

[4] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1138, West Croup (1999).

[5] Id. at p. 1149.

[6] Id. at p. 992.