decease

[ dih-sees ]

noun

1. the act of dying; departure from life; death.

verb (used without object)

, de·ceased, de·ceas·ing.

1. to depart from life; die.

decease

/ dɪˈsiːs /

noun

1. a more formal word for death

verb

1. intr a more formal word for die 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of decease¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English deces < Old French < Latin dēcessus departure, death, equivalent to dēced-, variant stem of dēcēdere to go away ( dē- de- + cēdere to go; cede ) + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > s; (v.) late Middle English decesen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decease¹

C14 (n): from Old French deces, from Latin dēcēdere to depart

Example Sentences

The boy had, with the additional softening claim of a lingering illness of his mother’s, been the means of a sort of reconciliation; and Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, having no children of their own, nor any other young creature of equal kindred to care for, offered to take the whole charge of the little Frank soon after her decease.

From Literature

One morning, about ten days after Mrs. Churchill’s decease, Emma was called downstairs to Mr. Weston, who “could not stay five minutes, and wanted particularly to speak with her.”—He met her at the parlour-door, and hardly asking her how she did, in the natural key of his voice, sunk it immediately, to say, unheard by her father,

From Literature

I forget in detail what they were, but I have a general recollection that he was to begin with reviving the Drama, and to end with crushing it; inasmuch as his decease would leave it utterly bereft and without a chance or hope.

From Literature

The late king of the country not only appeared to have been troubled with a cough at the time of his decease, but to have taken it with him to the tomb, and to have brought it back.

From Literature

I did not ask what she meant by “all being over,” but I suppose she referred to the expected decease of her mother and the gloomy sequel of funeral rites.

From Literature