eu·tha·na·sia

[yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh]
noun
1.
Also called mercy killing. the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition.
2.
painless death.

Origin:
1640–50; < Neo-Latin < Greek euthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu- eu- + thánat(os) death + -ia -y3

eu·tha·na·si·ast [yoo-thuh-ney-zee-ast] , noun
eu·tha·na·sic [yoo-thuh-ney-zik] , adjective
pro·eu·tha·na·sia, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Euthanasia is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
euthanasia (ˌjuːθəˈneɪzɪə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
Also called: mercy killing the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness
 
[C17: via New Latin from Greek: easy death, from eu- + thanatos death]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

euthanasia
c.1600, from Gk. euthanasia "an easy or happy death," from eu- "good" + thanatos "death." Sense of "legally sanctioned mercy killing" is first recorded in English 1869.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

euthanasia eu·tha·na·sia (y&oomacr;'thə-nā'zhə, -zhē-ə)
n.

  1. The act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness or an incurable condition, as by lethal injection or the suspension of extraordinary medical treatment.

  2. A quiet, painless death.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
euthanasia   (y'thə-nā'zhə)  Pronunciation Key 
The act or practice of painlessly ending the life of an animal or a willing individual who has a terminal illness or incurable condition, as by giving a lethal drug.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
euthanasia [(yooh-thuh-nay-zhuh)]

Painlessly putting someone to death — usually someone with an incurable and painful disease; mercy killing.

Note: Proposals to make euthanasia legal in the United States have inspired heated debate.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Some people do not seem to understand that euthanasia is not fun for anyone who
  works in a shelter and has to do it.
This appeal to prepare for euthanasia has caused particular resentment in some
  of his critics.
We are working toward eliminating euthanasia of dogs and cats in shelters and
  animal control agencies.
Euthanasia has always been an option if you acquire a horse, you should be a
  responsible owner and provide lifetime care.
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