San"gui*na*ry (?), a. [L.
sanguinarius, fr. sanguis blood: cf. F.
sanguinaire.] 1. Attended with much
bloodshed; bloody; murderous; as, a sanguinary war, contest, or
battle.
We may not propagate religion by wars, or by
sanguinary persecutions to force consciences.
Bacon.
2. Bloodthirsty; cruel; eager to shed
blood.
Passion . . . makes us brutal and
sanguinary.
Broome.
Syn. -- Bloody; murderous; bloodthirsty; cruel.
San"gui*na*ry, n. [L. herba
sanguinaria an herb that stanches blood: cf. F.
sanguinaire. See Sanguinary, a.]
(Bot.) (a) The yarrow.
(b) The Sanguinaria.