euthanasia Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of killing someone painlessly (especially someone suffering from an incurable illness)
    mercy killing.

WordNet

Eu`tha*na"si*a noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. well + death, , , to die: cf. F. euthanasie.
Definitions
  1. An easy death; a mode of dying to be desired. "An euthanasia of all thought." Hazlitt.
    The kindest wish of my friends is euthanasia. Arbuthnot.
    2. A putting to death for humane purposes. Used to refer to the killing of animals to relieve or avoid pain.

Webster 1913