Euthanasia Definition
yo͝othə-nāzhə, -zhē-ə
noun
An easy and painless death.
Webster's New World
Act or practice of causing death painlessly, so as to end suffering: advocated by some as a way to deal with persons dying of incurable, painful diseases.
Webster's New World
The process of terminating the life of another by merciful or painless means, to prevent further suffering.
Webster's New World Law
1876, Natural Euthanasia, Popular Science Monthly, Volume 8,
This purely painless process, this descent by oblivious trance into oblivion, this natural physical death, is the true euthanasia; and it is the duty of those we call physicians to secure for man such good health as shall bear him in activity and happiness onward in his course to this goal. For euthanasia, though it be open to every one born of every race, is not to be had by any save through obedience to those laws which it is the mission of the physician to learn, to teach, and to enforce. Euthanasia is the sequel of health, the happy death engrafted on the perfect life.
Wiktionary
1897, Bram Stoker, Dracula, Folio Society 2008, p. 273,
For myself I could hold it in my account with God to find such an euthanasia for you, even at this moment if it were best.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- mercy-killing
- putting one out of one's misery
- release from suffering
- putting an animal to sleep
- easy death
- painless death
- killing
Origin of Euthanasia
First attested in 1606, from Ancient Greek εὐθανασία (euthanasia), from εὐ- (eu-, “good”) + θάνατος (thanatos, “death”)
From Wiktionary
Greek euthanasiā a good death eu- eu- thanatos death
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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