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in at the death

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death

[deth]
–noun
1. the act of dying; the end of life; the total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions of an organism. Compare brain death.
2. an instance of this: a death in the family; letters published after his death.
3. the state of being dead: to lie still in death.
4. extinction; destruction: It will mean the death of our hopes.
5. manner of dying: a hero's death.
6. (usually initial capital letter) the agent of death personified, usually represented as a man or a skeleton carrying a scythe. Compare Grim Reaper.
7. Also called spiritual death. loss or absence of spiritual life.
8. Christian Science. the false belief that life comes to an end.
9. bloodshed or murder: Hitler was responsible for the death of millions.
10. a cause or occasion of death: You'll be the death of me yet!
11. Archaic. pestilence; plague. Compare Black Death.
12. at death's door, in serious danger of death; gravely ill: Two survivors of the crash are still at death's door.
13. be death on, Informal.
a. to be excessively strict about: That publisher is death on sloppily typed manuscripts.
b. to be snobbish about or toward.
c. to be able to cope with easily and successfully: The third baseman is death on pop flies.
14. do to death,
a. to kill, esp. to murder.
b. to repeat too often, to the point of becoming monotonous and boring: That theme has been done to death.
15. in at the death,
a. Fox Hunting. present at the kill.
b. present at the climax or conclusion of a situation.
16. put to death, to kill; execute.
17. to death, to an extreme degree; thoroughly: sick to death of the heat.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME deeth, OE dēath; c. G Tod, Goth dauthus; akin to ON deyja to die 1 ; see -th


1. decease, demise, passing, departure.


1. birth, life.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

death 
O.E. deað, from P.Gmc. *dauthaz, from verbal stem *dau- "die" + *-thuz suffix indicating "act, process, condition." Death's-head, a symbol of mortality, is from 1596. Death row first recorded 1940s. Slang be death on "be very good at" is from 1839. Deathbed in O.E. was "the grave;" meaning "bed on which someone dies" is from c.1400. Death wish first recorded 1896. The death-watch beetle (1668) inhabits houses, makes a ticking noise like a watch, and is superstitiously supposed to portend death.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: death
Function: noun
: a permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions : the end of life —see also BRAIN DEATH, CIVIL DEATH
NOTE: Death is usually defined by statute and for purposes of criminal homicide has been held to include brain death.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: death
Pronunciation: 'deth
Function: noun
1 : the irreversible cessation of all vital functions especially as indicated by permanentstoppage of the heart, respiration, and brain activity : the end of life —see BRAIN DEATH
2 : the cause or occasion of loss of life death of him>
3 : the state of being dead death as in life>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

death (děth)
n.
The end of life; the permanent cessation of vital bodily functions, as manifested in humans by the loss of heartbeat, the absence of spontaneous breathing, and brain 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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Science Dictionary
death   (děth)  Pronunciation Key 
The end of life of an organism or cell. In humans and animals, death is manifested by the permanent cessation of vital organic functions, including the absence of heartbeat, spontaneous breathing, and brain activity. Cells die as a result of external injury or by an orderly, programmed series of self-destructive events known as apoptosis. The most common causes of death for humans in well-developed countries are cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and emphysema, lung infections, and accidents. See also brain death.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

in at the death

Also, in at the finish or kill. Involved in or present at the end, especially a disastrous end but sometimes merely the climax of an important event. For example, He had a hand in their breakup, but he didn't want to be in at the death, or They've done really well this year, and we want to be in at the kill. These expressions originally alluded to hunters and hounds being present at the death of a fox they had run to ground. [First half of 1700s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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