deathwatch

death·watch

D d

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [deth-woch, -wawch]
- /ˈdɛθˌwɒtʃ, -ˌwɔtʃ/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [deth-woch, -wawch]
- /ˈdɛθˌwɒtʃ, -ˌwɔtʃ/

Definitions of deathwatch word

noun deathwatch a vigil held beside a dying or dead person 3
noun deathwatch a vigil kept beside a dead or dying person 3
noun deathwatch a guard set over a person soon to be executed 3
noun deathwatch any of various insects, esp. any of a family (Anobiidae) of wood-burrowing beetles whose heads make a tapping sound superstitiously regarded as an omen of death 3
noun deathwatch a vigil beside a dying or dead person. 1
noun deathwatch a guard set over a condemned person before execution. 1

See all 11 definitions of deathwatch

Information block about the term

Origin of deathwatch

First appearance:

before 1660

One of the 46% oldest English words

First recorded in 1660-70; death + watch

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Deathwatch

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Deathwatch

deathwatch popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 54% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

deathwatch usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for deathwatch

noun deathwatch

vigil — wakefulness maintained for any reason during the normal hours for sleeping.
watch — to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens: to watch while an experiment is performed.
last rites — anointing of the sick.
obsequies — a funeral rite or ceremony.

All 4 Synonyms of deathwatch