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.
painless death.
Origin of euthanasia
1640–50; < New Latin < Greekeuthanasía an easy death, equivalent to eu-eu- + thánat(os) death + -ia-y3
Related formseu·tha·na·si·ast[yoo-thuh-ney-zee-ast]/ˌyu θəˈneɪ ziˌæst/, nouneu·tha·na·sic[yoo-thuh-ney-zik]/ˌyu θəˈneɪ zɪk/, adjectivepro·eu·tha·na·sia, adjective
c.1600, from Greek euthanasia "an easy or happy death," from eu- "good" (see eu-) + thanatos "death" (see thanatology). Sense of "legally sanctioned mercy killing" is first recorded in English 1869.
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.
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.
