Cemetery
/ˈsɛm.ɪ.tɛr.i/noun
A burial ground; a place where the dead are buried.
Did you know?The term 'cemetery' derives from the Greek word for a place of sleep, reflecting ancient beliefs about death and the afterlife as a state of slumber.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κοιμητήριον (koimitērion)
“A place for sleeping, a resting place for the dead.”
Latin
Latin
coemeterium
“A burial place, derived from the Greek term.”
Old French
Old French
cemetière
“A burial ground, taken directly from Latin.”
Middle English
Middle English
cemeterye
“A place for the burial of the dead, influenced by Old French.”
Modern English
English
cemetery
“A formal term for a burial ground, having evolved from its ancient roots.”