Asphyxiate (verb)

1. To cause someone to die from lack of oxygen.
2. To deprive of air or oxygen, resulting in unconsciousness or death.

Origin:

From the greek word "asphuxia" meaning to choke, which is a combination of "a" meaning without + "sphuxis" meaning pulse or heartbeat.

Examples:

1. The fire asphyxiated the trapped workers before the fire department could reach them.
2. He asphyxiated himself by inhaling toxic fumes.
3. The victims were asphyxiated by the smoke and died before the rescue team arrived.
4. The room was filled with gas, and if we didn't open the windows, we would have asphyxiated.
5. The people were asphyxiated in the small, poorly ventilated room.