Eating Death

[Mistress Siana]

I've always been wondering why Voldemort's people are called 'Death Eaters'. What does that mean, 'eat' death...any suggestions for a deeper meaning?

[Claire]

they avoided death by pretending they weren't part of voldemort's following... I think the 'eat' part means that they just stood in the face of death, or they should be dead or something.

[Neo]

Never thought about it, mut maybe is the same reason Voldemort decided to use that nick (to to have a name that sacred the wizards that pronounce it), so maybe Death Eaters is just a way to intimidate wizards.

[Holly Golightly]

yeah, I'm thinking that it's just an intimidating sounding name!

[Sacred Guardian]

yeah, i don't think that there was a specific reason, i just think it sounded cool to jkr

[tiggirl]

Wizards don't like the name Voldemort because it was his name not because the name itself is scary. They are afraid of the man the name represents that's why they call him "He-who-shall-not-be-named" or something like that.

[Mistress Siana]

Hm...sounds plausible, but on the other hand, any name including the word "death" would have been intimidating...what keeps me wondering is the word "eater"...the hp lexicon says it maybe refers to necrophilia...but i don't quite believe that

[TDM]

i'd be scared of people who could eat death.

[Neo]

Maybe somone should ask Jo in an interview or something (it's a very good question, hope someone in the forum could be able), she usually tends to give most of the names a meaning.
And Voldemrt says in CS, that he chosed his name knowing that some ay in the future it will be a named that scared wizards, of course the important thing is the person bt name also counts.

[Paul]

The thing that drives Voldemort, probably more than anything, is his quest for absolute immortality (although power probably comes almost equally important). He wants to be able to eat (ie consume) death, and therefore (for him anyway, and I guess for his followers), death will be "eaten" and destroyed.

At the same time, the term Death Eaters is a term which can also be used to intimidate and scare those who oppose Voldemort and his followers.

At least, that's my theory anyway .

Regarding Voldemort's name, I believe that Vol de mort in french means flight of death.

[Mistress Siana]

good explanation...

But besides destroying, 'eat' could also mean enjoying something (for most people tend to like what they eat ). Maybe Voldie meant to scare his enemies by emphazising that his thugs don't only kill to get rid of people but also because they're crazy enough to get pleasure out of it...my god...

[Neo]

that's too crazy, but I like it though. They lik death, and that's why they kill muggles.

[Holly Golightly]

Didn't know about the whole french fight of death thing...

ooh, wait for it... maybe after voldie haes the fighting part, his followed come along and 'eat' the remnants...
ewww though, how sick is that...

Oops, wait, just saw the 'l'... FLIGHT of death, not fight... whoops!

ah well, you all should know that I'm not entirely there by now anyways!!!

[Mistress Siana]

ooh, wait for it... maybe after voldie haes the fighting part, his followed come along and 'eat' the remnants...
ewww though, how sick is that...

'eat' the remnants...that's good...does know exactly how they got rid of all the dead muggles?

[Holly Golightly]

hehehe, wouldn't that just be awesome... but VERY VERY GROSS!!!