thanatopsis en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /θænəˈtɒpsɪs/
Etymology
From Ancient Greek θάνατος (thánatos, “death”) + ὄψις (ópsis, “seeing”), via the poem "Thanatopsis" by William Cullen Bryant. Although a surface analysis of thanato- + -opsis readily suggests itself and might invite a semantic expectation of deathliness, Bryant's sense of the word corresponds to "the seeing of death" rather than "the appearance/likeness of death".
Meanings
- Contemplation of death.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| thanatopses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |