cemetery
/ˈsɛmɪtɛri/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
koimētērion — sleeping chamber, resting place
Overview
Meaning Now
- A burial ground; a place where the dead are interred.
Literal older meaning
a place for sleeping
Language path
Ancient Greek → Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
cimiterie
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word stems from the early Christian belief that the dead are merely 'sleeping' until the resurrection. Unlike the Roman practice of cremation, which necessitated spaces outside city walls, the concept of a 'cemetery' allowed for burial in dedicated holy ground.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
koimētērion
“dormitory or resting place”
- Late Latin
coemeterium
“burial place”
- Old French
cimetière
“burial ground”
- Middle English
cimiterie
“cemetery”
Connections
Word parts
koiman
root
to put to sleep
-terion
suffix
place for
Related across languages
French
cimetière
cemetery
Spanish
cementerio
cemetery
Explore next
Related to cemetery
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.