deathblow


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death·blow

 (dĕth′blō′)
n.
1. A stroke or blow that causes death.
2. A destructive event or occurrence: dealt a deathblow to our hopes.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

deathblow

(ˈdɛθˌbləʊ)
n
a thing or event that destroys life or hope, esp suddenly
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

death•blow

(ˈdɛθˌbloʊ)

n.
1. a blow causing death.
2. anything that ends hope, expectation, or the like; death warrant.
[1785–95]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.deathblow - the blow that kills (usually mercifully)
kill, putting to death, killing - the act of terminating a life
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

deathblow

[ˈdɛθˌbləʊ] ncolpo di grazia
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
Our hopes had received such a deathblow that the gradually increasing heat seemed to our distorted imaginations much greater than it really was.
That voice, although accentuated by menace, recalled to him another voice, which, that very morning, had dealt the deathblow to his mystery, by drawling, nasally, in the midst of the audience, "Charity, please!" He raised his head.
"This is the final deathblow after all the ambitions we had after the 2011 revolution," said Dawoud, referring to the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak after 30 years.
Repeated blocking fills the posture bar - when it tops out enemies become vulnerable to a deathblow, or a wounding attack against boss characters.
This is evident from the following: "feudalism as the basis of social economics, received its first deathblow in the earlier years of the British possession in the middle of the 18th century" (2).
But I want us to go beyond this pay-cut option, because in my opinion it only addresses the issue halfway, not dealing it a deathblow. Secondly, it opens the way for abuse and underhand bargain with the civil servants for doctoring of figures in respect of the office holders' wages.
It also allows you, within reason, to wave a finger at the handful of scaremongers who proclaimed that e-commerce had dealt it a deathblow.
Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law," lamented Guevarra.
Some people have made it appear that any ruling against Senator Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law but even a first year law student will tell you that such acts tending to influence the decision of the judge are a clear and punishable case of contempt of court,' Guevarra said.
Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law,' Guevarra said in a message to reporters.
While the Union promoted individual possessiveness as an aspect of loyal citizenship, the Confederacy--partly through necessity, partly on account of class and race--reverted to older concepts of restraint that suffered a deathblow with the South's defeat.
I will not belabor the points already discussed by others who are in a better position to explain why this SC decision has dealt a deathblow to our judiciary and to constitutional checks and balances.