euthanasia
pronunciation
How to pronounce euthanasia in British English:
UK [ˌju:θəˈneɪziə]
How to pronounce euthanasia in American English:
US [ˌjuθəˈneɪʒə]
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- Noun:
- the act of killing someone painlessly (especially someone suffering from an incurable illness)
Word Origin
- euthanasia
- euthanasia: [17] Etymologically, euthanasia means ‘good death’, and that was more or less its signification when it was introduced into English: ‘Give me but gentle Death: Euthanasia, Euthanasia, that is all I implore’, Tatler 1709. The modern use of the word, ‘mercy killing’, seems to have originated in the 1860s; the first recorded use of it was by William Lecky in his History of European morals 1869. The term is borrowed from Greek euthanasíā, a compound based on the prefix eu- ‘good’ and thánatos ‘death’.
- euthanasia (n.)
- 1640s, "a gentle and easy death," from Greek euthanasia "an easy or happy death," from eu- "good" (see eu-) + thanatos "death" (see thanatology) + abstract noun ending -ia. Slightly earlier in anglicized form euthanasy (1630s). Sense of "legally sanctioned mercy killing" is recorded in English by 1869.
Example
- 1. Now the dutch are considering permitting euthanasia for babies .
- 2. The disclosures will reopen the highly charged debate about euthanasia .
- 3. Conclusion : active euthanasia is morally acceptable .
- 4. The report is certain to reignite the fierce debate between advocates and opponents of euthanasia .
- 5. But whatever one 's views of euthanasia , openness is surely to be applauded .