D defs.my
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Entry 9 senses Webster, 1913

Death

/(dĕth)/ · IPA /dɛθ/
01 n. The cessation of all vital phenomena without capability of resuscitation, either in animals or plants.
  1. 1.
    The cessation of all vital phenomena without capability of resuscitation, either in animals or plants.
  2. 2.
    Total privation or loss; extinction; cessation; as, the death of memory.
    “The death of a language can not be exactly compared with the death of a plant.” — J. Peile.
  3. 3.
    Manner of dying; act or state of passing from life.
    “A death that I abhor.” — Shak.
    “Let me die the death of the righteous.” — Num. xxiii. 10.
  4. 4.
    Cause of loss of life.
    “Swiftly flies the feathered death.” — Dryden.
    “He caught his death the last county sessions.” — Addison.
  5. 5.
    Personified: The destroyer of life, -- conventionally represented as a skeleton with a scythe.
    “Death! great proprietor of all.” — Young.
    “And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that sat on him was Death.” — Rev. vi. 8.
  6. 6.
    Danger of death.
  7. 7.
    Murder; murderous character.
    “Not to suffer a man of death to live.” — Bacon.
  8. 8.
    Loss of spiritual life.(Theol.)
    “To be carnally minded is death.” — Rom. viii. 6.
  9. 9.
    Anything so dreadful as to be like death.
    “It was death to them to think of entertaining such doctrines.” — Atterbury.
    “And urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death.” — Judg. xvi. 16.
    “The death bell thrice was heard to ring.” — Mickle.
    “And round about in reel and rout, The death fires danced at night.” — Coleridge.
    “At all ages the death rate is higher in towns than in rural districts.” — Darwin.
    “Have the gates of death been opened unto thee?” — Job xxxviii. 17.
Syn. Death, Decease, Demise, Departure, Release.
Death applies to the termination of every form of existence, both animal and vegetable; the other words only to the human race. Decease is the term used in law for the removal of a human being out of life in the ordinary course of nature. Demise was formerly confined to decease of princes, but is now sometimes used of distinguished men in general; as, the demise of Mr. Pitt. Departure and release are peculiarly terms of Christian affection and hope. A violent death is not usually called a decease. Departure implies a friendly taking leave of life. Release implies a deliverance from a life of suffering or sorrow.