Английский Этимологический словарь - obituary

- 1706, from M.L. obituarius, from L. obitus "departure, a going to meet, encounter" (a euphemism for "death"), from stem of obire "go to meet" (as in mortem obire "meet death"), from ob "to, toward" + ire "go." A similar euphemism is in O.E. cognate forрfaran "to die," lit. "to go forth."