Origin: 1300–50; (n.) ME deces < OF < L dēcessus departure, death, equiv. to dēced-, var. s. of dēcēdere to go away (dē-de-+ cēdere to go; see cede) + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > s; (v.) late ME decesen, deriv. of the n.
de·cease (dĭ-sēs') intr.v.
de·ceased, de·ceas·ing, de·ceas·es To die. n. The act of dying; death.
[Middle English decesen, from deces, death, from Old French, from Latin dēcessus, departure, death, from past participle of dēcēdere, to depart, die : dē-, de- + cēdere, to go; see ked- in Indo-European roots.]
de·ceased (dĭ-sēst') adj. No longer living; dead. See Synonyms at dead. n.
pl.deceased A dead person.