From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdepartedde‧part‧ed /dɪˈpɑːtɪd $ -ɑːr-/ adjective [only before noun] MXDIEdead – used in order to avoid saying the word ‘dead’ his dear departed wife
Examples from the Corpus
departed• Taking the worry out of caring for the departed.• It was named in honour of our departed hero.• For if that departed order can be allowed any saving graces, it was in that area that they might be found.• As the film progresses we come to appreciate Ishi's dignity and the courage of his now departed people.• Receive in tranquillity and peace, Lord, the souls of all your departed servants who have died recently.• Omagh gave a senior debut to 16-year-old Aidan Coyle, no relation to departed striker Liam.• There it is said the ghost of his departed wife pleaded with him to proceed no further.• For few of the departed will life afterwards be easy.dear departed• Phoney psychics could milk their rich clients for years, charging fancy prices for rap sessions with the dear departed.• When you care about a dear departed show, a highly promoted new episode offers a kind of false hope. 