dormition

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French dormition, from Latin dormītiōnem.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)
  • (UK) IPA(key): /dɔːˈmɪʃ(ə)n/

Noun

dormition (countable and uncountable, plural dormitions)

  1. The process of falling asleep.
  2. (euphemistic) The process of death or the actual death itself.
  3. (Eastern Orthodoxy, often capitalized) The death and assumption into heaven of the Virgin Mary.
    • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 507:
      The Virgin had allegedly given away her robe just before her death – what is in Eastern tradition called her Dormition, or falling asleep.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɔʁ.mi.sjɔ̃/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

dormition f (plural dormitions)

  1. dormition

Further reading