death-wound

A soldier receives a death-wound on the battlefield.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A fatal injury: A "death-wound" is a wound that is severe enough to cause death. It refers to an injury that is inevitably or directly lethal.

Usage Examples

• (A fatal injury sustained in combat.)
• (A wound that caused immediate death.)

Advanced Usage

• "to inflict a death-wound": to cause a fatal injury.

  • The snake's venomous bite inflicted a death-wound on the victim. (The bite was lethal.)

• "a death-wound to something" (figurative): a severe blow that destroys or ends something non-physical, such as a plan, reputation, or institution.

  • The scandal was a death-wound to his political career. (The scandal ended his career permanently.)

Variants and Related Words

• Death-wounded (adj): having suffered a fatal injury.
  • The death-wounded soldier was carried from the field. (The soldier was mortally wounded.)

Synonyms

• Mortal wound: a wound that causes death.
• Fatal injury: an injury that results in death.
• Lethal blow: a strike that kills.

Related Idioms

• A death blow: a decisive action or event that ends something, often used figuratively.
  • The new law dealt a death blow to the illegal trade. (It effectively ended the trade.)

Notes

• The term "death-wound" is often used in historical or literary contexts, such as in descriptions of battles, duels, or tragic events. It is less common in modern medical terminology, where "fatal injury" or "mortal wound" is preferred.