thanatopsis

[than-uh-top-sis]

noun

1. a view or contemplation of death.

2. (initial capital letter, italics),  a poem (1817) by William Cullen Bryant.

thanatopsis

/ ˌθænəˈtɒpsɪs /

noun

1. a meditation on death, as in a poem

Word History and Origins

Origin of thanatopsis¹

thanat(o)- + -opsis

Word History and Origins

Origin of thanatopsis¹

C19: from Greek thanatos death + opsis a view

Example Sentences

We think that a much calmer and milder mood may well become us before such a thanatopsis.

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The pie list swelled; the richer puddings had vanished; the sausage, with his drapery wrapped about him, barely lingered in a pleasant thanatopsis with the buckwheats and the sweet but doomed maple.

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