How We Describe Death Has Evolved Over The Years

Discussing death has always been a delicate topic, especially when it comes to crafting obituaries for loved ones. Over the years obituaries have evolved, shaped by society’s customs and the evolution of the language used to describe death in obituaries.

How we describe death today differs greatly from hundreds of years ago. This reflects not only the fact that attitudes towards death have changed, but also the prevalence of modern day causes of death. Back in the pre-1850’s many obituaries described death in euphemistic phrases like “slain by enemy” or “breathed her soul away into her Savior’s arms.”

The language of obituaries can be divided into three broad categories: polite euphemisms, transcendent experiences, and “there’s more to the story” style. Polite euphemisms are a gentle way to talk about death without mentioning the “d-word.” Transcendent experiences involve using religious or spiritual terms to define death. The “there’s more to the story” style-obituaries are similar to polite euphemisms in that they don’t explicitly state how someone died. This option is often used in times of sensitive topics such as overdose or suicide.