different between asleep vs dormition

English

Etymology

From Middle English aslepe, equivalent to a- (“in, on”) +? sleep.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??sli?p/
• IPA: /??sli?p/
• Rhymes: -i?p
• Hyphenation: asleep

Adjective

asleep (comparative more asleep, superlative most asleep)

1. In a state of sleep; also, broadly, resting.

   I was asleep when you called.

   Never disturb a man asleep.

2. (slang) Inattentive.

   How could you miss that? Were you asleep?

3. (of a body part) Having a numb or prickling sensation accompanied by a degree of unresponsiveness.

   My arm fell asleep. You know, like pins and needles.
4. (euphemistic) dead

Usage notes

• Not used in attributive position. sleeping is used instead.

Synonyms

• dormant

Antonyms

• awake

Related terms

• asleep at the switch

Translations

See also

• pins and needles

Anagrams

• Sapele, elapse, please, sapele

English

Etymology

From Middle French dormition, from Latin dorm?ti?nem.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d???m??(?)n/

Noun

dormition (countable and uncountable, plural dormitions)

1. The process of falling asleep.
2. (euphemistic) The process of death or the actual death itself.
3. (Eastern Orthodoxy, often capitalized) The death and assumption into heaven of the Virgin Mary.
   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin 2010, p. 507:

     The Virgin had allegedly given away her robe just before her death – what is in Eastern tradition called her Dormition, or falling asleep.

Synonyms

• sleep

Related terms

• dorm
• dormant
• dormitive
• dormitory

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??.mi.sj??/

Noun

dormition f (plural dormitions)

1. dormition