euthanasia

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the intentional ending of a person or animal's life in a painless way to relieve incurable suffering

   The law permits euthanasia only under strict medical and legal safeguards.

2. 2
   noun

   an easy or peaceful death, especially in older usage

   The essay uses euthanasia in its original sense of a gentle death without suffering.

Simplified etymology

Euthanasia, recorded from the early 17th century, comes from Greek eu, “well,” and thanatos, “death,” and literally means “an easy death.”

First recorded in English in the early seventeenth century, from Greek euthanasia ("easy or good death"), formed from eu- ("good, well") + thanatos ("death"). The modern medical and ethical sense developed from the older meaning "a peaceful death."

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary