Morte

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The end of life; a state characterized by the cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism; an occurrence marking the conclusion of existence within any context
2. The act of dying or the condition of being dead; a permanent end to the bodily life; a significant transformation often associated with loss or change in various cultures
3. The cessation of life functions in an organism; the final event in the lifecycle marking definitive separation from living status; a term often evoking philosophical or existential considerations regarding life and existence

Etymology: Thomas Malory gave this noun its best-known English outing when he titled his book of King Arthur's legends "Le Morte Darthur," meaning "The Death of Arthur." Outside that title and similar literary uses, the word is now rare in English. It came into English from Old French, where "mort" carried the same sense of death. Behind the French lies the Latin "mors," which also gave English "mortal" and "mortuary," so the older root reached English by way of French rather than directly from Latin.

Synonyms: death, demise, passing, end

Antonyms: life, birth