Dictionary

Death Eater en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈdɛθ ˌi.tɚ/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈdɛθ ˌiː.tə(ɹ)/ (UK)

Etymology

From death + eater, coined by British author J. K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series. The group of fanatical wizards were named as such to refer to "eating" death, or achieving immortality.

Meanings

1. (Harry-Potter) A member of a group of dark wizards led by Voldemort.
   • “You see, Narcissa, though we are talking about the Dark Lord’s innermost circle of Death Eaters—Bellatrix has always preferred to believe herself the only one who matters...” 2005, J. K. Rowling, chapter 2, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
   • “The Death Eaters,” whispered Hermione. “What?” “Voldemort’s followers,” said Ron quietly. “I mean, I think that’s who they were...” 2000, J. K. Rowling, chapter 9, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire:
2. (broadly, derogatory, figuratively) A fanatical henchman or follower of an evil leader.
   • He surrounded himself not with advisors, but with political death eaters who were more than happy to trade their institutional ethics for a brief moment of proximity to raw, unchecked power. 2020 October 15, Shannon Jones, “The Sycophants of Washington”, in The Atlantic Post:
   • Like the “Death Eaters,” of Harry Potter lore, who try to conquer the wizard world by terrorizing and killing, these economic wrecking crews operate in a realm where ordinary laws do not apply. 2009 March 1, Frank Rich, “Has a ‘Death Eater’ Stolen Our Future?”, in The New York Times:
   • These are the bureaucratic Death Eaters. They are dedicated to the proposition that the agency they are being appointed to run has no constitutional right to exist... 2017 January 24, Charles P. Pierce, “The Trump Administration Is Filled with Intellectual Death Eaters”, in Esquire:

Forms

Translations (36)

tr Ölüm Yiyen (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · ja 死喰い人 (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · uk Смертежер (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · ca Cavaller de la mort (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · el Θανατοφάγος (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · is drápara (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · lv Nāvēzis (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · sv Dödsätare (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · zh 食死人 (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · nl Dooddoener (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · lt Mirties Valgytojas (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · he אוכל מוות (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · cs Smrtijed (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · fo Deyðsátari (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · sk Smrťožrút (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · sq Hamort (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · vi Tử thần Thực tử (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · et Surmasööja (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · de Todesser (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · ro Devoratorul Morţii (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · id Pelahap Maut (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · da Dødsgardist (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · zh 食死徒 (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · nb dødseter (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · pt Comensal da Morte (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · sl Jedec smrti (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · pt Devorador da Morte (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · bg Смъртножаден (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · ru Пожиратель Смерти (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · fr Mangemort (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · pl śmierciożerca (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · it Mangiamorte (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · hi प्राणभखशी (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · es mortífago (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · fi Kuolonsyöjä (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort) · hu halálfaló (fictional follower of Lord Voldemort)