funeral
pronunciation
How to pronounce funeral in British English:
UK [ˈfjuːnərəl]
How to pronounce funeral in American English:
US [ˈfjuːnərəl]
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- Noun:
- a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
Word Origin
- funeral
- funeral: [14] Latin fūnus, a word of uncertain origin, meant ‘funeral’ and, probably secondarily, ‘corpse’. From it was derived the adjective fūnerālis, which English acquired via Old French in the 14th century. The noun funeral followed in the 16th century; it came from the same ultimate source, of course, but by a slightly different route – from medieval Latin fūnerālia via Old French funeraille.
- funeral (n.)
- "ceremony of burying a dead person," 1510s, probably short for funeral service, etc., from funeral (adj.).
- funeral (adj.)
- late 14c., "pertaining to the burial of the dead," mid-15c., from Medieval Latin funeralia "funeral rites," originally neuter plural of Late Latin funeralis "having to do with a funeral," from Latin funus (genitive funeris) "funeral, funeral procession, burial rites; death, corpse," a word of uncertain origin, perhaps ultimately from PIE root *dheu- (3) "to die." Singular and plural used interchangeably in English until c. 1700. In Elizabethan times also a verb, "to mourn" (transitive). The classical Latin adjective was funebris.
Example
- 1. Her funeral was held in beijing on january 8 .
- 2. Funeral etiquette has almost expired in this anything-goes age .
- 3. Bitterness deepens with each injury and funeral .
- 4. He did not want an elaborate funeral .
- 5. I foresee great contests at my funeral games .