You're misinformed - electrocution does not imply death

It does, only in informal speech does it not imply death. If you get electrically shocked and don't die then you were not electrocuted.

Since when has Hacker News been a forum of formal speech?

Since always HN is a place of clear and precise communication.

jes5199's wiktionary link says that "Strictly correct usage is to reserve electrocute and electrocution for fatal electric shocks". Do you have a source?

Looks like I was misinformed. However, the Wikipedia entry for electrocution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocution) does mention that the choice of definition varies from dictionary to dictionary.

> (informal) To inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally.

it is derived from 'execute'

I upvoted you. You sound just like the teacher :).