Necropsy
/ˈnɛkrɒpsi/noun
An examination of a dead body, especially to determine the cause of death.
Did you know?Necropsy was coined in modern scientific Latin from Greek roots, and its eerie first element, nekros, is the same death-root behind necromancy, making the word feel like forensic magic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nek-
“to die; death”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nekros
“a dead body; corpse”
Ancient Greek
Greek
opsis
“a sight; viewing; seeing”
19th Century
New Latin
necropsia
“an examination of a dead body”
Modern English
English
necropsy
“an examination of a dead body, especially of an animal”
Explore more surprising origins