defunctus
The Latin word for deceased is defunctus.
The term is used to describe someone who is no longer alive.
Meaning: no longer alive (adj)
Which one should you use?
defunctus is the masculine singular form and serves as the root for the English word 'defunct'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use defuncta for a female deceased person, defunctum for a neuter noun and defuncti for a group of men or a mixed group.
Did you know?
- The word shares a conceptual lineage with the English word 'function', as both stem from the idea of performing or carrying out an action.
- Roman tombstones rarely used defunctus as a label. Instead, they used the phrase sit tibi terra levis, meaning 'may the earth be light upon you'.
- While defunctus describes the state of being dead, Romans often used the euphemism dormire, meaning 'to sleep', to describe the deceased in poetry and epitaphs.
Examples in context
- Iterum tristis sum quia amicus meus mortuus est.I am sad again because my friend is deceased.
- Amicus meus defunctus est.My friend is deceased.
- Vir defunctus pacem habet.The deceased man has peace.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a family member at a funeral.
- LuciusEstne avus tuus defunctus?Is your grandfather deceased?
- AureliaIta, Luci, defunctus est.Yes, Lucius, he is deceased.
- LuciusDolorem tuum sentio, Aurelia.I feel your grief, Aurelia.
- AureliaGratias tibi ago.I thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries defunctus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
