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euthanasia

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eu⋅tha⋅na⋅sia

  [yoo-thuh-ney-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh]
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–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, esp. a painful, disease or condition.
2. painless death.
Origin:
1640–50; < NL < Gk euthanasía an easy death, equiv. to eu- eu- + thánat(os) death + -ia -y 3

Related forms:
eu⋅tha⋅na⋅si⋅ast  [yoo-thuh-ney-zee-ast] , noun
eu⋅tha⋅na⋅sic  [yoo-thuh-ney-zik] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Euthanasia Debate
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euthanasia.procon.org
eu·tha·na·sia   (yōō'thə-nā'zhə, -zhē-ə)   
n.  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.

[Greek euthanasiā, a good death : eu-, eu- + thanatos, death.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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Word Origin & History

euthanasia 
1606, from Gk. euthanasia "an easy or happy death," from eu- "good" + thanatos "death." Sense of "legally sanctioned mercy killing" is first recorded in Eng. 1869.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: eu·tha·na·sia
Pronunciation: "yü-th&-'nA-zh&
Function: noun
: the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured persons in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy called also mercy killing —eu·tha·na·sic /-'nA-zik, -sik/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: eu·tha·na·sia
Pronunciation: "yü-th&-'nA-zh(E-)&
Function: noun
: the act or practice of killing hopelesslysick or injured individuals (as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy; also : the act or practice of allowing a hopelessly sick or injuredpatient to die by taking less than complete medical measures to prolong life called also mercy killing
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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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