Main Entry: stran·gle

Pronunciation: \ˈstraŋ-gəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): stran·gled; stran·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French estrangler, from Latin strangulare, from Greek strangalan, from strangalē halter — more at strain

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to choke to death by compressing the throat with something (as a hand or rope) : throttle b : to obstruct seriously or fatally the normal breathing of c : stifle
2 : to suppress or hinder the rise, expression, or growth of <repression strangles free speech>intransitive verb 1 : to become strangled
2 : to die from or as if from interference with breathing

— stran·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun