coroner
pronunciation
How to pronounce coroner in British English: UK [ˈkɒrənə(r)]
How to pronounce coroner in American English: US [ˈkɔrənə(r)]
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- Noun:
- a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
Word Origin
- coroner (n.)
- late 12c., from Anglo-French curuner, from Latin custos placitorum coronae, originally the title of the officer with the duty of protecting the property of the royal family, from Latin corona, literally "crown" (see crown (n.)). The duties of the office gradually narrowed and by 17c. the chief function was to determine the cause of death in cases not obviously natural.
Example
- 1. A coroner overheard him , and issued a challenge .
- 2. Medellin , colombia : a coroner examines the body of a man killed by gunmen
- 3. One reason is that its coroner keeps more meticulous records than others .
- 4. The l.a. authorities autopsied the body june 26 , but the coroner won 't release a final report for weeks .
- 5. When the coroner tearfully declared the chamberlains innocent this week and gave them azaria 's correct death certificate , there was a surprising display of grief and shame in australia .