— euthanasiast /yooh'theuh nay"zee ast'/ , n. — euthanasic /yooh'theuh nay"zik/ , adj.
/yooh'theuh nay"zheuh, -zhee euh, -zee euh/ , n.
1. Also called mercy killing . the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition.
2. painless death.
[ 1640-50; euthanasía an easy death, equiv. to eu- EU- + thánat ( os ) death + -ia -Y 3 ]