Ah, the old practice of using a word that comes from French to give some nuance when a Germanic word once worked. The Miriam-Webster dictionary says SonicSoul’s

Ah, the old practice of using a word that comes from French to give some nuance when a Germanic word once worked. The Miriam-Webster dictionary says SonicSoul’s usage was correct, meaning “in a manner to cause death,” but now is archaic.