Definition of death

< dearth

death angel >

death    (dth) KEY 

NOUN:

1. The act of dying; termination of life.
2. The state of being dead.
3. The cause of dying: Drugs were the death of him.
4. A manner of dying: a heroine's death.
5. often Death A personification of the destroyer of life, usually represented as a skeleton holding a scythe.
6. 1. Bloodshed; murder.
   2. Execution.
7. Law Civil death.
8. The termination or extinction of something: the death of imperialism.

IDIOMS:
at death's door

Near to death; gravely ill or injured.

be the death of

To distress or irritate to an intolerable degree.

death on

Opposed to or strict about: Our boss is death on casual dressing.

put to death

To execute.

to death

To an intolerable degree; extremely: worried to death.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English deeth, from Old English dath; see dheu-² in Indo-European roots