lethal
pronunciation
How to pronounce lethal in British English:
UK [ˈliːθl]
How to pronounce lethal in American English:
US [ˈliːθl]
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- Adjective:
- of an instrument of certain death
Word Origin
- lethal (adj.)
- 1580s, from Late Latin lethalis, alteration of Latin letalis "deadly, fatal," from letum "death," of uncertain origin. Form altered in Late Latin by association with lethes hydor "water of oblivion" in Hades in Greek mythology, from Greek lethe "forgetfulness."
Example
- 1. It initially looked quite lethal , and caused panic .
- 2. Then she swallowed a lethal mixture of medications .
- 3. The results are lethal : some aerial surveys suggest giraffe numbers around the mara have fallen by 80 % since 1979 .
- 4. Commercial fishing routinely ranks as america 's most lethal job .
- 5. Both flu pandemics and global warming are lethal .