sarcophagus
pronunciation
How to pronounce sarcophagus in British English:
UK [sɑ:ˈkɒfəgəs]
How to pronounce sarcophagus in American English:
US [sɑrˈkɑfəgəs]
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- Noun:
- a stone coffin (usually bearing sculpture or inscriptions)
Word Origin
- sarcophagus
- sarcophagus: [17] A sarcophagus is etymologically a ‘flesh-eater’: the word comes via Latin sarcophagus from Greek sarkophágos, a compound formed from sárx ‘flesh’ (source of English sarcasm) and -phágos ‘eating’. This originated as the term for a particular type of limestone that in the ancient world was used for making coffins, since bodies buried in them quickly decomposed. By extension it came to be used for the coffins themselves.=> sarcasm
- sarcophagus (n.)
- c. 1600, "type of stone used for coffins," from Latin sarcophagus, from Greek sarkophagos "limestone used for coffins," literally "flesh-eating," in reference to the supposed action of this type of limestone (quarried near Assos in Troas, hence the Latin lapis Assius) in quickly decomposing the body, from sarx (genitive sarkos) "flesh" (see sarcasm) + phagein "to eat" (see -phagous). Related: Sarcophagal. The "stone" sense was the earliest in English; meaning "stone coffin, often with inscriptions or decorative carvings" is recorded from 1705. The Latin word, shortened in Vulgar Latin to *sarcus, is the source of French cercueil, German Sarg "coffin," Dutch zerk "tombstone."
Example
- 1. One sarcophagus was still sealed .
- 2. A project to build a new sarcophagus over the damaged reactor lacks funds .
- 3. The largest sarcophagus was believed to contain the remains of alexander the great .
- 4. In 2009 factum arte 's founder , adam lowe , and his team spent five weeks in egypt making a forensic study of the tomb walls and sarcophagus .
- 5. The day is a public holiday and citizens are allowed to view kim il-sung 's embalmed body which lies in a clear sarcophagus .