This week's theme: words related to death and taxes.

thanatopsis (than-uh-TOP-sis) noun

   A reflection upon death.

[From Greek thanatos (death) + -opsis (appearance, view).]

Thanatos is the Greek personification of death; thanatophobia is an abnormal
fear of death. Thanatopsis is the title of an acclaimed poem by poet and
journalist William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878): http://bartleby.com/102/16.html

-Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org)

  "Subject to constant death threats, Dr. [Martin Luther] King 'had a thread
   of thanatopsis, a preoccupation of his death.' It blistered through his
   oratory. Canaan portrays a man aware his time would be brief and
   despairing of realizing his dreams."
   The Philadelphia Inquirer; King Chronicler to Speak at Free Library;
   Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News; Jan 24, 2005.

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Pronunciation:
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