Definition of deceased
Etymology
From English decease + -ed, from Middle English deceas via Old French from Latin dÄ"cessus (“departureâ€), equivalent to Latin dÄ"ced-, variation of Latin dÄ"cÄ"dre (“to go awayâ€).
Pronunciation
- (US) enPR: dÄ"-sÄ"st' IPA: /di.'sist/
- Audio (US) [?]
- Rhymes: -iËst
Adjective
deceased (not comparable)
- (law): One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased†refers to the victim of a homicide.
Usage notes
- Not to be confused with diseased (affected with or suffering from disease)
Noun
deceased (plural deceased)
- (law): One who has died. In property law, the alternate term decedent is generally used. In criminal law, “the deceased†refers to the victim of a homicide.
Usage notes
- Deceased is commonly used in legal and journalistic settings. Departed is most commonly used in religious settings.
References:
- Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
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