Quickie Lingo
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Accessory chemicals-used in embalming with the other fluids (e.g., preservatives, sealers, hardeners)

Active euthanasia-deliberate act to end the life of a dying patient 

Advanced directive-like a living will it tells a health care person what to do for you in the event you can no longer give direction yourself (i.e., living wills)

Agathanasia-a "death with dignity"

Algor mortis-cooling of the body after death

Altruistic suicide-suicide by an individual who is over integrated into a society; self sacrifice

Amortality-neither mortal nor immortal

Analgesics-drugs which block pain

Anatomical gift-organ donation

Anatomical Gift Act-the law that allows people to donate their body organs when they die

Anniversary reaction-worsening of grief on dates related to loss

Anomic suicide-suicide by an individual in a society which under regulates its members; caused by disruptive behavior

Antemortem-before death

Anticipatory grief-grieving in response to the awareness of an impending loss

Arrangement conferences-meeting between customer and funeral director

Ars moriendi-art of dying; 15th century European tradition of "dying well"; how to face death

Arterial preservative-embalming chemical used to replace blood

Assisted death/suicide-when someone does something to help another person end their life

Auto euthanasia-suicide

Autolysis-breakdown of a corpse by the body's digestive enzymes

Autopsy-examination of body to find the cause of death

Average life expectancy-average number of years lived

Bequeath-leave behind

Bereavement-a state of mourning after a significant loss

Bereavement overload-the inability to grieve properly because losses occur on top of one another

Black-traditional color of mourning; this is white in some countries

Black death-bubonic plague of the 14th century Europe; see Edgar Allen Poe's "Masque of the Red Death"

Bleaching agents-chemicals used on corpses to lighten the skin before cosmetics are used

Brain death-when the normal functions of the brain cease (e.g., though, experience, etc) but the body continues to function in a vegetative state

Burial-to put a body in the ground, a tomb or at sea.

Burial-transport permit-a document allowing for burial/cremation and transport of the body

Cadaver-corpse

Cadaver carrier-used to remove the corpses to the morgue in hospitals

Calcination-cremation via heat instead of flames

Cannula-used to inject embalming fluid into the arteries

Canopic jars-containers used for organs or ashes

Capillary flush-rosy cheeks resulting from embalming

Capital punishment-when the state executes a person via the death penalty

Cardiorespiratory standard (test for death)-where the prolonged absence of circulation or respiration is documented

Cavity embalming-using cavity fluids to replace internal fluids in the abdomen 

Cemetery-a place to bury the dead

Cerecloth-fabric soaked in an adhesive that is used to cover the corpse 

Certificate of disposition-document allowing burial/cremation

Chin rest-a tool used to keep the mouth of a corpse closed

Chronic grief-prolonged grief that doesn't find a conclusion

Complicated grief-some things are tough in a particular grief and can lead to maladaptive behavior or block progress to good mourning outcomes

Concurrent drainage-the embalming process of allowing the blood to drain while adding embalming fluids

Copycat suicide-series of consecutive suicides

Coroner-a public official or officer whose principle job is to look into the cause of death

Corpse-the dead body

Corpsicle-tactless term for a cryonically preserved body

Cranial embalming-embalming inside the skull via the nose

Cremate-to burn the dead body

Crematorium-a place where cremations are held

Cryonics-keeping the body as low temperature until medical advances can cure its condition

Cult suicide-mass suicide performed by a cult or sect

Danse macabre-"Dance of death"; 15th century European art form in which skeletal corpses are dancing reminding the living in the brevity of life

Day of the Dead-Mexican celebration for the dead

Dead-no longer living

Deanimate-to die

Death-the act of dying

Death angel-poisonous white mushroom; also called the death cup

Death anxiety-emotional distress people experience when they experience death, dead bodies, grieving people or when they think about their own death

Death benefit-life insurance monies paid

Death care industry-the funeral industry

Death certificate-proclamation of death

Death cults-sort of necrolatry group venerating the dead in a mythology

Death duty-taxes on inheritance (same as inheritance tax, estate tax or death tax)

Death instinct-a Freudian suggestion that we have an opposition to life

Death notice-an announcement of death (paid)

Death penalty-capital punishment

Death rate-number of deaths in a population over a period of time; fatality rate

Death rattle-noise made by a dead person, caused by the air passing through mucus when the cough reflex is lost

Death row-a place condemned criminals wait for their execution; death house

Death seat-seat opposite of the drivers because it is the most dangerous

Death toll-lives given during an event such as a military campaign 

Death Valley-lowest elevation point in the Western Hemisphere-near California 

Death warrant-document authorizing execution; destructive event; deathblow

Death's head-symbol of death; human skull

Decapitate-remove the head; behead

Deceased-the dead person

Decomposition-breakdown of the body following death

Delayed grief-grief that is suppressed, postponed or inhibited

Denial-a coping mechanism where something is ignored

Dental tie-a way of keeping the corpses mouth closed

Descansos-roadside crosses placed at the site of a car accident

Dewar-chamber for storing cryogenically-preserved bodies

Die-stop living

Dirge-a funeral hymn

Disenfranchised grief-something that is not allowed to be grieved for (e.g., pet; abortion; loss of innocence; etc.)

Disposition (of the body)-methods of removing the body from the world of the living

Draw and quarter-execution of a person by tying all four limbs to a four horses and having them run in opposite directions

Durable power of attorney-a document giving someone authorization to make decisions on one's behalf if one is unable to communicate their wishes

Dying trajectory-a curve that indicates ones dying process