expression, godan verb (-ru)
wet the lips of a dying person; attend someone's last moments
A traditional Japanese deathbed custom where a close relative moistens the dying person's lips with water. Often used figuratively to mean being present at someone's final moments.
祖母が亡くなる前に、家族みんなで死に水を取った。
Before my grandmother passed away, the whole family wet her lips with water.
彼は
He was unable to be at his beloved's side in her final moments.