euthanasia
/juː.θəˈneɪ.zi.ə/
euthanasia means the practice of intentionally killing a human being or animal in a humane way, especially in order to end suffering. It carries an Arena rating of 1729, earned across 25 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, euthanasia ranks #358 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,120 of 17,131 for Scariest Words, #1,560 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words, #1,941 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
euthanasia is pronounced /juː.θəˈneɪ.zi.ə/.
Why “euthanasia” is a great word
The act or practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve incurable suffering. From Ancient Greek εὐ- (eu-, “good”) + θάνατος (thánatos, “death”), first attested in English in 1606. Unlike “assisted suicide,” which provides the means for another’s self-administered death, or “murder,” a malicious and unlawful killing, euthanasia is defined by consensual, direct intervention motivated by mercy. It is the quieted monitor in the palliative room, the veterinarian’s final kindness, the ethical debate held in hushed tones—a profound human attempt to wrest a semblance of grace from the inexorable mechanics of pain.
Etymology
First attested in 1606, from Ancient Greek εὐθανασία (euthanasía), from εὐ- (eu-, “good”) + θάνατος (thánatos, “death”)
noun
- The practice of intentionally killing a human being or animal in a humane way, especially in order to end suffering.e.g.“Euthanasia is the most difficult part of a veterinarian's job.”
- The practice of killing a human being who is considered a liability to society, especially a disabled person.
- An easy death, or the means to bring about such a death.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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