coup de grâce

English - English

Definition of coup de grâce in English English dictionary

A final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal

A coup de grace is an action or event which finally destroys something, for example an institution, which has been gradually growing weaker. Irving Kristol delivered the coup de grace in a letter dated June 12: they had decided to reject the proposal. = death blow

the blow that kills (usually mercifully)

merciful strike intended to end one's suffering; deathblow intended to end one who is mortally wounded; conclusive finishing act, decisive ending blow

(Pronounced "koo day GRAH ") A miscellaneous, full-round action that allows an attacker to attempt a killing blow against a helpless opponent A coup de grace can be administered with a melee weapon if no more than a 5-foot step is required to do so, or with a bow or crossbow if the attacker is adjacent to the opponent An attacker delivering a coup de grace automatically scores a critical hit, after which the defender must make a successful Fortitude save (DC 10+damage inflicted) or die Rogues also gain their extra sneak attack damage for this attack Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening foes A coup de grace is not possible against a creature immune to critical hits

Hyphenation

coup de grace

Turkish pronunciation

ku dı greys

Synonyms

blow, clincher, comeuppance, deathblow, defeat, final blow, final stroke, kill, knockout, mercy stroke, mortal blow, quietus

Pronunciation

/ˈko͞o də ˈgrās/ /ˈkuː də ˈɡreɪs/

Etymology

[ 'kOp ] (verb.) circa 1572. Late 17th century, from French coup de grâce (“stroke of grace”). Originally referring to a merciful stroke putting a fatally wounded person out of misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after facing a firing squad.