death

plural deaths · alternative obsolete deth · alternative deeeath

1. countableuncountableThe 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, non-living state.

   My grandfather died/met a violent death, which saddened the whole family.

   4 more examples

   But foraſmuch as this [the faintneſs of the Heart] is a very bad and heavy diſtemper, and a fore-runner of death, therefore 'tis called a timely death.

   1680, T. K., The Kitchin-Phyſician; Or, a Guide for Good-Housewives in Maintaining Their Families in Health. […] , To cure the faintneſs of the Heart, page 71

   Perhaps the reason why he seemed in such a ghastly rage was that he did not come by his death fairly.

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

   "‘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.’"

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

   Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, […]

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

   1. countableuncountableExecution (in the judicial sense).

      The serial killer was sentenced to death.

      1 more example

      Thirty years after Gao Chengyong embarked on a succession of 11 rape-murders of women in northwest China, a court sentenced him to death on Friday, following an investigation that involved sifting through 230,000 fingerprints.

      2018 March 30, Chris Buckley, “‘Vicious’ Killer of 11 Women Gets Death Penalty in China”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 31 Mar 2018, Asia Pacific

2. capitalizedcountableoftenuncountableThe personification of death as a (usually male) hooded figure with a scythe; the Grim Reaper.

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

   3 more examples

   And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, & his name that sat on him was Death"

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 6:8

   [T]o thoſe, Jonathan, who know what death is, and what havock and deſtruction he can make, before a man can well wheel about—'tis like a whole age.

   1762, [Laurence Sterne], chapter IX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume V, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], →OCLC, page 51

   O boy! running man is out of death ... Anyway, they say she comes on a pale horse

   1974, Anthony Banks, Michael Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, “Anyway”, in The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, performed by Genesis

3. countableuncountablepreceded by theThe collapse or end of something.

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

   2 more examples

   Buyer (negotiating): You were at two-fifty on that one. Go on, then, what's the death on that? Seller: Two hundred pounds is the absolute death. Buyer: Sold. Thank you.

   He may even find himself being blamed if the project dies a quick and horrible death at the box office or is unceremoniously axed by the network.

   1983, Robert R. Faulkner, Music on Demand, page 90

   1. countableespeciallyfigurativelyuncountablepreceded by theA cause of great stress, exhaustion, embarrassment, or another negative condition (for someone).

      This bake sale is going to be the death of me!

4. countablefigurativelyuncountableSpiritual lifelessness.

1. The personification of death, often a skeleton with a scythe, and one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

   Death can be seen on a tarot card.

   3 more examples

   7 And when hee had opened the fourth seale, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, & his name that sate on him was Death, and hell followed with him: and power was giuen vnto them, ouer the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, & with hunger, and with death, and with the beastes of the earth.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 6:7–8

   Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command: for this is thy dominion!

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave Four. The Last of the Spirits.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 137

   He had drunk more than was fit for him, and he was singing some light song, when he saw approaching, as he said, the pale horse mentioned in the Revelation, with Death seated as the rider.

   1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

   Synonyms: the angel of death, Azrael, the Grim Reaper, the reaper, the pale rider, the rider, psychopomp, Santa Muerte

2. A surname.