Meanings
noundonatio mortis causa (plural donationes mortis causa)
plural donationes mortis causa
- lawA deathbed gift: a future gift given in expectation of the donor's imminent death and only delivered upon the donor's death.
Synonyms & antonyms
antonym(s) of “a gift given during the donor's life”
Opposite
Origin
- Latindōnātiō“donation, gift”
- Englishdonatio mortis causa
From Latin dōnātiō (“donation, gift”) + mortis (“death”) + causā (“on account of”, postposition). Literally a gift on account of (one's) death.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
donatio mortis causa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donatio%20mortis%20causa
MLA
“donatio mortis causa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donatio%20mortis%20causa. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “donatio mortis causa,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donatio%20mortis%20causa.
Source: donatio mortis causa on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.