彼は悲しい死をとげた。

he; him; his; boyfriend

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

sad; sorrowful

death; decease; death penalty (by strangulation or decapitation)

indicates direct object of action; indicates subject of causative expression; indicates an area traversed; indicates time (period) over which action takes place; indicates point of departure or separation of action; indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.

to be solved; to loosen; to come untied; to be removed (e.g. restrictions); to be cleared (e.g. misunderstandings); to be broken (e.g. spells, curses); to melt