death

Alternative forms

• deth (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English deeth, from Old English dēaþ, from Proto-Germanic *dauþuz (compare West Frisian dead, Dutch dood, German Tod, Swedish död), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰówtus. More at die.

Pronunciation

• enPR: dĕth, IPA^(key): /dɛθ/

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• Rhymes: -ɛθ

Noun

death (countable and uncountable, plural deaths)

1. The cessation of life and all associated processes; the end of an organism's existence as an entity independent from its environment and its return to an inert, nonliving state.

   The death of my grandmother saddened the whole family.

   • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175, page 030:

     They burned the old gun that used to stand in the dark corner up in the garret, close to the stuffed fox that always grinned so fiercely. Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly. Otherwise his pelt would not have been so perfect. And why else was he put away up there out of sight?—and so magnificent a brush as he had too. […].

   • 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt, chapter I, in The House Behind the Cedars:

     "‘Death,’" quoted Warwick, with whose mood the undertaker's remarks were in tune, "‘is the penalty that all must pay for the crime of living.’"

   • 2013 July-August, Philip J. Bushnell, “Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance”, in American Scientist:

     Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.

2. (often capitalized) The personification of death as a hooded figure with a scythe; the Grim Reaper.

   When death walked in, a chill spread through the room.

3. (the death) The collapse or end of something.

   England scored a goal at the death to even the score at one all.  death of the feudalism

   1. (figuratively, esp. followed by of-phrase) A cause of great stress, exhaustion, embarrassment, or another negative condition (for someone).

      This bake sale is gonna be the death of me!

See also

Further reading

• The Definition of Death - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Anagrams

• Theda, hated