Degree of politeness: die, pass away, decease, demise

Question

Hi, there~

I'm EFL learner.

Reading books, something hit on my head.

In my country(asian),politeness is so important that we have various synonyms which indicate similar meaning in similar situation.

Then, How about English which has been more concerned about sex(male or female) rather than hierarchy?

Is English much reflected politeness on their words in temrs of hierarchy such as age?

please help me arrange these words related to death according to degree of politeness.

you can use equal(=)s to the similar degree.

die pass away decease demise

Thank you~

Tennysonm · Accepted Answer

The difference does not depend on politeness but instead depends on context.

If you are talking to a family member and you were concerned about being sensitive to their recent loss, you would say, "Pass away." For example, talking to a recent widow, you would way "When did your husband pass away?"

However it is not wrong to use "die". For example, knowing that my mother was young when my grandfather died, I would not hesitate asking her, "How old were you when granddad died?"

"Decease" and "demise" are not equal synonyms with "pass away" and "die". Decease is hardly used in that tense. Instead it is often used by detached people (lawyers, undertakers) as "The Deceased" to refer to a dead person. "The deceased was brought to the morgue at 6:15pm." A family member would continue to use the same names and pronouns as if the dead person were still alive. "After the wreck they took John to the morgue at 6:15. Later they moved him to the Undertakers."

"Demise" is hardly used. It would most likely be used to refer to something dying. "The Enron company met its demise in 20xx." Even though I know it means that, I have never heard it in the context of a person dying.

Degree of politeness: die, pass away, decease, demise

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions