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defunto

deceased

adjective deh-FOON-toh Rare

Origin: Latin defunctus (having finished)

Also means

late (as in 'the late')

Usage Note

Defunto is used as both adjective and noun (il defunto = the deceased). It is a formal or literary term; in everyday speech Italians say morto or scomparso. When used before a name it conveys respectful formality: il defunto professore Rossi (the late Professor Rossi). Feminine: defunta.

Examples

"La famiglia del defunto ha ricevuto molti messaggi."

Natural Translation

The deceased's family received many messages.

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