hearse

1 of 2

noun

ˈhərs 

1

a

: an elaborate framework erected over a coffin or tomb to which memorial verses or epitaphs are attached

b

: a triangular candelabra for 15 candles used especially at Tenebrae

2

a

archaic : coffin

b

obsolete : bier sense 1

3

: a vehicle for conveying the dead to the grave

hearse

2 of 2

verb

hearsed; hearsing

transitive verb

1

a

archaic : to place on or in a hearse

b

: to convey in a hearse

2

: bury

Did you know?

The Evolution of Hearse

Medieval French used the word herce for a harrow, a farm tool used to break up and smooth the soil. Herce was also applied to a triangular frame that was used for holding candles. Herce was borrowed into Middle English as herse. In those days, a large and decorative framework might be raised over the tomb or coffin of an honored person. Because this framework was often decorated with candles, the word herse was applied to it. A series of slightly changed meanings led to the use of herse (Modern English hearse) for a platform for a corpse or coffin, and from that to a vehicle to carry the dead. The verb hearse emerged late in the 16th century.

Synonyms

Verb

• inter
• bury
• tomb

Examples of hearse in a Sentence

Verb

the cemetery hearses an average of eight bodies a week

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Police also found the remains of Christina Rosales, 63, in the back of a hearse on the property. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025

Miles Harford, 34, was arrested last year after he was accused of keeping the body of 63-year-old Christina Rosales covered in blankets in the back of a hearse for more than a year and giving her family someone else's remains after relatives paid for her cremation. —Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025

Verb

Police vans and hearses were among the only available vehicles large enough to transport someone lying down. —Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025

Decorated hearses ferry visitors past the Mercer Williams House Museum, where an antiques dealer shot his lover and inspired the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. —John Von Sothen, airmail.news, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English herse, from Anglo-French herce harrow, frame for holding candles, from Latin hirpic-, hirpex harrow

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for hearse

• curse
• purse
• terse
• vers
• verse
• worse
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse

Kids Definition

hearse

noun

ˈhərs

: a vehicle for conveying the dead to the grave

Etymology

Noun

Middle English herse "a triangular frame for holding candles," from early French herce "frame for holding candles, harrow," from Latin hirpex "harrow"

Word Origin

An early form of French used the word herce for a harrow, a farm tool used to break up and smooth the soil. Herce was also applied to a triangular frame that was similar in shape to the frame of a harrow and was used for holding candles. Herce was borrowed into English as hearse, and both the literal sense of "harrow" and the extended sense of "a frame for holding candles" were kept. In those days a large and decorative framework might be raised over the tomb or coffin of an honored person. Because this framework was often decorated with candles, the word hearse was applied to it. A series of slightly changed meanings led to the use of hearse for a platform for a corpse or coffin, and from that to a vehicle to carry the dead to the grave.