Death
/dɛθ/noun
The end of life; the permanent cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism.
Did you know?In many ancient cultures, death was not seen as an end but as a transformation, a passage to another realm, often celebrated with rituals and offerings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mr̥tós
“The state of having died, mortal.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
θάνατος (thánatos)
“Death personified as a god, representing the inevitable end of life.”
Old English
Old English
deað
“The state of being dead, an event marked by the finality of life.”
14th Century
Middle English
deth
“A term encompassing the cessation of life, often associated with the spiritual realm.”
Modern English
English
death
“The final end of the biological functions that sustain a living organism.”