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{{Title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
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{{Puzzles&SpellsSpoiler}}
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
|name=''Morsmordre''
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|name = ''Morsmordre''
  +
|image = Morsmordre.gif
|image=[[File:Dark_Mark_Over_London.JPG|250px]]
 
|incantation=''Morsmordre''<br/>(morz-MOR-druh)
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|incantation = ''Morsmordre''<ref name="GF9">{{GOF|B|9}}</ref><br/>(morz-MOR-druh)<ref name="GF9"/>
|type=[[Curse]]
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|type = [[Dark charm]]<ref name="GF9"/>
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|hand = [[File:Morsmorde wand movement HPS.png|thumb|60px|left]]
|hand=Point wand at sky<ref name="GOFf">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''</ref>
 
|light=Green<ref name="GOF">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' - Chapter 9 (The [[Dark Mark]])</ref>
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|light = Green<ref name="GF9"/>
|effect=Conjures the [[Dark Mark]]
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|effect = Conjured the [[Dark Mark]]<ref name="GF9"/>
  +
|creator = [[Tom Riddle]] (most likely)<ref name="GF9"/><ref name="WU">{{WU}} "[[Brilliant Event: An Imperfect Love]]"</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quote|Then he realised it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation.|The [[Dark Mark]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
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{{Quote|Then he realised it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation.|[[Harry Potter]] viewing the [[Dark Mark]] in the sky, summoned with this spell|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
'''''Morsmordre''''' is the incantation of a [[spell]] used to conjure the [[Dark Mark]], the skull-and-serpent sign used by [[Honourific|Lord]] [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. The Death Eaters cast their mark over the homes of anyone they [[Killing Curse|killed]].<ref name="GOF"/>
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'''''Morsmordre''''' was the [[incantation]] of a [[dark charm]] used to conjure the image of the [[Dark Mark]], the skull-and-serpent sign used by [[Honorific|Lord]] [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]], in the sky.<ref name="GF9" /> The Death Eaters cast their mark over the homes of anyone they [[Killing Curse|killed]] as their calling card.<ref name="GF9" /> It was said to have been [[Spell creation|created]] by Lord Voldemort himself.<ref name="WU"/>
   
==Practicioners==
+
==History==
* [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.]]<ref name="GOF"/>
 
* [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]<ref name="HBPf">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''</ref>
 
* [[Horace Slughorn]]<ref name="HBF4">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 4 ([[Horace Slughorn]])</ref>
 
* [[Gibbon]]<ref name="HBP29">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 29 (The [[Phoenix Lament]])</ref>
 
 
==Uses==
 
 
===First Wizarding War===
 
===First Wizarding War===
  +
{{Dialogue a-b|Ron Weasley|I don't get it. I mean ... it's still only a shape in the sky....|Arthur Weasley|Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed. The terror it inspired ... you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside. ... Everyone's worst fear ... the very worst ...|[[Arthur Weasley]] informing his son [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] about this spell's history and usage|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
In the [[First Wizarding War]], the ''Morsmordre'' curse was somewhat of a [[Signature spell|signature move]] for Death Eaters. Upon committing murder, they would cast it over the locations as a declaration of their crimes. This led the wizarding community to fear the mark's appearance, as it would usually mean death is found when it is present.
 
  +
In the [[First Wizarding War]], ''Morsmordre'' became something of a [[Signature spell|signature move]] for the Death Eaters.<ref name="GF9" /> After a murder, the spell would be cast in order to both claim credit for the attack, and to further terrify the wizarding community.<ref name="GF9" />
   
  +
After Voldemort's [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)|first defeat]], the Mark was no longer seen since the method for casting it was known only to the innermost circle of Death Eaters. If these individuals had escaped death or [[Azkaban]], they had done so by lying about their membership in the organisation, and therefore casting the spell would have been something of a give-away. It was noted that precious few wizards knew how to perform this spell.<ref name="GF9" />
After Voldemort's first defeat, the mark became absent when Death Eaters were either rounded up or evaded justice, and due to very few wizards knew how to cast it, almost exclusive to Death Eaters. The casting of this curse is considered illegal.
 
   
 
===1994===
 
===1994===
  +
{{Dialogue a-b-c-a|Barty Crouch Senior|Which of you did it? Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?|Harry Potter|We didn't do that!|Ron Weasley|We didn't do anything! What did you want to attack us for?|Do not lie, sir! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!|[[Bartemius Crouch Senior]] accusing [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] of having used this spell at the Quidditch World Cup riot|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
[[File:Dark_Mark.JPG|thumb|left|The Dark Mark over the Quidditich World Cup.]]
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[[File:Thedarkmark.gif|250px|thumb|left|The Dark Mark over the Quidditich World Cup]]
[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr.]] witnessed Death Eaters torturing the [[Roberts family]] for entertainment, which awakened him from the [[Imperius Curse]] [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.|his father]] placed on him. He took [[Harry Potter]]'s [[Harry Potter's wand|wand]], which was sticking out of the boy's pocket in front of him, and cast the curse to set off the Dark Mark during the [[1994]] [[Quidditch World Cup]], in order to scare the Death Eaters there for being disloyal to Voldemort. This caused mass panic to both the audience and Death Eaters alike, causing the former to run around in hysteria and the latter to [[Apparition|Disapparate]] in fear of facing their master's wrath.
 
  +
[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch Junior]] cast the spell after witnessing a number of disloyal Death Eaters engaged in [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] torture of the [[Roberts family]] and [[Reappearance of the Dark Mark|rioting]] after the [[1994 Quidditch World Cup|Quidditch World Cup]]. His motive in casting this spell was primarily to terrify the former Death Eaters, as opposed to the other spectators.<ref name="GOF35">{{GOF|B|35}}</ref> This caused a widespread panic, as seeing the sign after 14 years made people think Voldemort had returned,<ref name="GF9"/> and Death Eaters feared the possibility of Voldemort's return more than the civilians due to their fear that their disloyalty to the Dark Lord may bring retribution from him.<ref name="GOF35"/>
   
At first, the [[house-elf]] [[Winky]] was blamed for the act due to the culprit wand was found in her possession and the [[Prior Incantanto|record showed]] it had performed the curse. Much later, the truth was revealed by Crouch himself under the influence of [[Veritaserum]].
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At first, the [[house-elf]] [[Winky]] was blamed for the act due to the fact that both she and the wand used to cast the spell were found together at the location from which the spell was apparently cast. After it was remembered that only a former Death Eater would have had the knowledge to cast the spell, both Winky along with Harry, Ron and Hermione were cleared of any involvement.<ref name="GF9"/>
  +
  +
Voldemort later used his knowledge of this event to contradict [[Lucius Malfoy]]'s claim that he was on the alert for any sign of Voldemort's return, and would have immediately rejoined him, upon his [[Return of Lord Voldemort|return]] at the [[Little Hangleton graveyard]].<ref name="GOF33">{{GOF|B|33}}</ref>
   
 
===1996===
 
===1996===
  +
[[File:Dark Mark Over London.JPG|250px|thumb|right|The Dark Mark over Tower Bridge, following the [[attack on London]]]]
[[Igor Karkaroff]] was killed in [[1996]] by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.
+
[[Igor Karkaroff]] was killed in [[1996]] by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.<ref name="HBP6">{{HBP|B|6}}</ref>
   
 
===1997===
 
===1997===
  +
{{Quote|There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered....|The Dark Mark over Hogwarts, before the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
It was cast over [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]' [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] when the Death Eaters [[Wikipedia:Invasion|invaded]] the castle in 1997, in order to lure [[Albus Dumbledore]] to the tower so that [[Draco Malfoy]] could kill him. However, it was [[Severus Snape]] who committed the murder, and Dumbledore's corpse was described to have fallen off the tower under the Mark's eerie green light like a great rag doll.
 
  +
[[File:Dumbledore defeated.png|250px|thumb|left|Dumbledore dying under the light of the Dark Mark, by Snape's hand]]
  +
It was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] by [[Gibbon]] when the Death Eaters invaded the castle in 1997, in order to lure [[Albus Dumbledore]] to the tower so that [[Draco Malfoy]] could kill him. In this case, the Mark was cast before, rather than after, a murder.<ref name="HBP29">{{HBP|B|29}}</ref> [[Albus Dumbledore]], [[Harry Potter]] and [[Rosmerta|Madam Rosmerta]] witnessed the Dark Mark over the school from [[Hogsmeade]], and Rosmerta gave Albus and Harry [[Broomstick|brooms]] so they could travel to the [[Hogwarts Castle|castle]] as quickly as possible.<ref name="HBP27">{{HBP|B|27}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Known practitioners==
  +
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
 
Barty Crouch, Jnr.jpg|[[Bartemius Crouch Junior]]<ref name="GOF35"/>
  +
Death Eaters WBST.png|[[Death Eaters]]<ref name="GF9"/>
  +
Gibbon.jpg|[[Gibbon]]<ref name="HBP29"/>
  +
Lord Voldemort Tom Marvolo Riddle Original Appearance.jpg|[[Tom Riddle]]<ref name="GF9"/>
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the French ''mort'', "death", and ''mordre'', "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the [[Death Eaters]]. The English word ''murder'' could also contribute. In Norwegian, Morsmordere directly translated means "mothers killers".
+
The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the Latin ''mors,'' "[[death]]", and ''mordere'', "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the [[Death Eaters]].
   
  +
Another derivation may come from French ''mort'', "death", and ''mordre'', "to bite". The English word ''murder'' could also contribute. The literal translation of the Norwegian word "morsmodre" would be "mothers killers".
It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder".
 
  +
 
It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder" and "mortal".
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
*Despite the film adaptations showing that the caster simply has to point the wand upwards and speak the incantation to launch the mark, in {{HPS}} shows the hand movement required.
[[File:Darkhand.png|thumb|The hand movement]]
 
  +
*In {{GOF|FA}}, the Dark Mark only appears greenish when it was cast at the [[Quidditch World Cup]]. When cast later in the same film after [[Return of the Dark Lord|Voldemort's resurrection]], along with its appearances in {{HBP|FA}}, it appears to be formed out of dark grey clouds.
* Despite the film adaptions showing that the caster simply has to point the wand upwards and speak the incantation to launch the mark, in ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]'' shows the hand movement required.
 
* In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark only appears greenish when it was cast at the [[Quidditch World Cup]]. When cast later in the same film after [[Return of the Dark Lord|Voldemort's resurrection]], along with its appearances in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', it appears to be formed out of dark grey clouds.
+
*In the book {{GOF}}, the Dark Mark was cast over the Quidditch World Cup by Barty Crouch Jnr with Harry's wand in order to terrify the disloyal Death Eaters who were willing to engage in muggle torture but not search for their (former) master. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film adaptation]], the Mark was cast by his own wand after the Death Eaters destroyed the campsite.
 
*In {{HBP|FA}}, the Dark Mark was cast after the Death Eaters [[Attack on London|attacked]] [[Diagon Alley]] and destroyed the [[Millennium Bridge]], with it towering over [[London]].
* In the book version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark was cast over the Quidditch World Cup by Barty Crouch Jr. with Harry's wand in order to strike fear at disloyal Death Eaters during their torturing of the [[Roberts family]]. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film adaption]], the Mark was cast by his own wand after the Death Eaters destroyed the campsite, as a sign of the Death Eaters' works.
 
  +
[[File:Morsmordre bellatrix.jpg|250px|thumb|Bellatrix triumphantly casting ''Morsmordre'' in {{HBP|FA}}]]
* In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaption]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', the Dark Mark was cast after the Death Eaters [[Attack on Diagon Alley|attacked]] [[Diagon Alley]] and destroyed the [[Millennium Bridge]], with it towering over [[London]].
 
 
*In the book {{HBP}}, the Dark Mark was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] in order to lure Dumbledore to that location. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaptation]], the Mark was [[Nonverbal spell|nonverbally]] cast by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] in celebration after Dumbledore was killed. Furthermore, in the film the Mark was [[Dark Mark counter-curse|dispelled]] by the mourning residents of Hogwarts as a sign of respect for the late [[Headmaster]].
[[File:Morsmordre_bellatrix.jpg|thumb|Bellatrix casts Morsmordre]]
 
 
*This is the only spell that Barty Crouch Jnr casts onscreen, in his true form, before becoming [[Alastor Moody]] by means of [[Polyjuice Potion]].
* In the book version of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', the Dark Mark was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] in order to lure Dumbledore there. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaption]], the Mark was [[Nonverbal spell|non-verbally]] cast by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] in celebration after Dumbledore was killed. Furthermore, in the film the Mark was dispelled by the mourning residents of Hogwarts as a sign of respect for the late [[headmaster]].
 
* This is the only spell that Barty Crouch Jr. casts onscreen, in his true form, before becoming [[Alastor Moody]] by means of [[Polyjuice Potion]].
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
  +
{{Imagecat|Images of Morsmordre}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{1st}}
 
  +
*{{GOF}} {{1st}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF|F}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF|G}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|F}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'' {{Comment|Seen in the [[Daily Prophet]]}} {{Comment|Heard}}
 
  +
*{{HBP|G}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F1}} {{C|Seen in the ''[[Daily Prophet]]''}} {{C|Heard}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F2}}
* ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]''
 
  +
*{{PM}}
  +
*{{WW}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{HPFJ}}
  +
*{{HPS}}
  +
*{{WU}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{HPWA}}
   
  +
==Notes and references==
==References==
 
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  +
[[de:Morsmordre]]
 
 
 
[[es:Morsmordre]]
 
[[es:Morsmordre]]
 
[[fr:Morsmordre]]
 
[[fr:Morsmordre]]
 
[[it:Morsmordre]]
 
[[it:Morsmordre]]
[[Category:Curses]]
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[[pl:Morsmordre]]
  +
[[ru:Морсмордре]]
[[Category:Dark Magic]]
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[[Category:Dark charms]]
  +
[[Category:Death-related magic]]
  +
[[Category:Foundables]]
  +
[[Category:Light-based magic]]
  +
[[Category:Murder]]
  +
[[Category:Spells invented by Tom Riddle]]
  +
[[Category:Spells with a light]]
  +
[[Category:Spells with incantations of Latin origin]]

Latest revision as of 22:14, 25 February 2024

"Then he realised it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation."
Harry Potter viewing the Dark Mark in the sky, summoned with this spell[src]

Morsmordre was the incantation of a dark charm used to conjure the image of the Dark Mark, the skull-and-serpent sign used by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, in the sky.[1] The Death Eaters cast their mark over the homes of anyone they killed as their calling card.[1] It was said to have been created by Lord Voldemort himself.[2]

History

First Wizarding War

Ron Weasley: "I don't get it. I mean ... it's still only a shape in the sky...."
Arthur Weasley: "Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed. The terror it inspired ... you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find inside. ... Everyone's worst fear ... the very worst ..."
Arthur Weasley informing his son Ron about this spell's history and usage[src]

In the First Wizarding War, Morsmordre became something of a signature move for the Death Eaters.[1] After a murder, the spell would be cast in order to both claim credit for the attack, and to further terrify the wizarding community.[1]

After Voldemort's first defeat, the Mark was no longer seen since the method for casting it was known only to the innermost circle of Death Eaters. If these individuals had escaped death or Azkaban, they had done so by lying about their membership in the organisation, and therefore casting the spell would have been something of a give-away. It was noted that precious few wizards knew how to perform this spell.[1]

1994

Barty Crouch Senior: "Which of you did it? Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?"
Harry Potter: "We didn't do that!"
Ron Weasley: "We didn't do anything! What did you want to attack us for?"
Barty Crouch Senior: "Do not lie, sir! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"
Bartemius Crouch Senior accusing Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger of having used this spell at the Quidditch World Cup riot[src]
Thedarkmark

The Dark Mark over the Quidditich World Cup

Barty Crouch Junior cast the spell after witnessing a number of disloyal Death Eaters engaged in Muggle torture of the Roberts family and rioting after the Quidditch World Cup. His motive in casting this spell was primarily to terrify the former Death Eaters, as opposed to the other spectators.[3] This caused a widespread panic, as seeing the sign after 14 years made people think Voldemort had returned,[1] and Death Eaters feared the possibility of Voldemort's return more than the civilians due to their fear that their disloyalty to the Dark Lord may bring retribution from him.[3]

At first, the house-elf Winky was blamed for the act due to the fact that both she and the wand used to cast the spell were found together at the location from which the spell was apparently cast. After it was remembered that only a former Death Eater would have had the knowledge to cast the spell, both Winky along with Harry, Ron and Hermione were cleared of any involvement.[1]

Voldemort later used his knowledge of this event to contradict Lucius Malfoy's claim that he was on the alert for any sign of Voldemort's return, and would have immediately rejoined him, upon his return at the Little Hangleton graveyard.[4]

1996

Dark Mark Over London

The Dark Mark over Tower Bridge, following the attack on London

Igor Karkaroff was killed in 1996 by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.[5]

1997

"There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered...."
— The Dark Mark over Hogwarts, before the Battle of the Astronomy Tower[src]
Dumbledore defeated

Dumbledore dying under the light of the Dark Mark, by Snape's hand

It was cast over the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts by Gibbon when the Death Eaters invaded the castle in 1997, in order to lure Albus Dumbledore to the tower so that Draco Malfoy could kill him. In this case, the Mark was cast before, rather than after, a murder.[6] Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and Madam Rosmerta witnessed the Dark Mark over the school from Hogsmeade, and Rosmerta gave Albus and Harry brooms so they could travel to the castle as quickly as possible.[7]

Known practitioners

Etymology

The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the Latin mors, "death", and mordere, "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters.

Another derivation may come from French mort, "death", and mordre, "to bite". The English word murder could also contribute. The literal translation of the Norwegian word "morsmodre" would be "mothers killers".

It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder" and "mortal".

Behind the scenes

Morsmordre bellatrix

Bellatrix triumphantly casting Morsmordre in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 15 images related to Morsmordre.

Notes and references