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sepulchre

noun
sep·​ul·​chre | \ ˈse-pÉ™l-kÉ™r How to pronounce sepulchre (audio) \
variants: or sepulcher

Definition of sepulchre

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a place of burial : tomb
2 : a receptacle for religious relics especially in an altar

sepulchre

verb
variants: or sepulcher
sepulchred or sepulchered; sepulchring or sepulchering\ ˈse-​pÉ™l-​k(É™-​)riÅ‹ How to pronounce sepulchering (audio) \

Definition of sepulchre (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 archaic : to place in or as if in a sepulchre : bury
2 archaic : to serve as a sepulchre for
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about sepulchre

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Synonyms for sepulchre

Synonyms: Noun

burial, grave, sepulture, tomb

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Did You Know?

Noun

Sepulchre (also spelled sepulcher) first appeared in Middle English around the beginning of the 13th century. It was originally spelled sepulcre, a spelling taken from Anglo-French. Like many words borrowed into English from French, sepulchre has roots buried in Latin. The word arose from Latin sepulcrum, a noun derived from the verb sepelire, meaning "to bury." Sepultus, the past participle of sepelire, gave us—also by way of Anglo-French—the related noun sepulture, which is a synonym of burial and sepulchre.

Examples of sepulchre in a Sentence

Noun

 a poem describing the forgotten sepulcher of a valiant knight of the Middle Ages

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 The Enclave, Buick’s large, three-row crossover, has been redesigned for 2018, allowing the automaker to finally place its predecessor in a sepulchre and seal the entrance. — Al Haas, Philly.com, "Redesigned after 10 years, new Buick Enclave is worth the wait," 28 June 2018 The Garden Tomb, is believed by many to be the garden and sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus. — Joe Yudin, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Israel," 5 Oct. 2016 The Enclave, Buick’s large, three-row crossover, has been redesigned for 2018, allowing the automaker to finally place its predecessor in a sepulchre and seal the entrance. — Al Haas, Philly.com, "Redesigned after 10 years, new Buick Enclave is worth the wait," 28 June 2018 The Garden Tomb, is believed by many to be the garden and sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus. — Joe Yudin, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Israel," 5 Oct. 2016 The Garden Tomb, is believed by many to be the garden and sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus. — Joe Yudin, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Israel," 5 Oct. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sepulchre.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of sepulchre

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for sepulchre

Noun

Middle English sepulcre, from Anglo-French, from Latin sepulcrum, sepulchrum, from sepelire to bury; akin to Greek hepein to care for, Sanskrit saparyati he honors

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More Definitions for sepulchre

sepulchre

noun
How to pronounce sepulchre (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of sepulchre

old-fashioned : a place of burial

See the full definition for sepulchre in the English Language Learners Dictionary

sepulchre

noun
sep·​ul·​chre
variants: or sepulcher \ ˈse-​pÉ™l-​kÉ™r \

Kids Definition of sepulchre

: grave entry 1, tomb

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More from Merriam-Webster on sepulchre

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sepulchre

Spanish Central: Translation of sepulchre

Nglish: Translation of sepulchre for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sepulchre for Arabic Speakers

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