sarcophagus

noun

sar·coph·a·gus sär-ˈkä-fə-gəs

plural sarcophagi sär-ˈkä-fə-ˌgī

-ˌjī,

-ˌgē

also sarcophaguses

Synonyms of sarcophagus next

: a stone coffin

broadly : coffin

Did you know?

Body-eating coffins might sound like something out of a horror film, but flesh-eating stone? The latter plays a role in the etymology of sarcophagus; it is the literal translation of líthos sarkóphagos, the Greek phrase that underlies the English term. The phrase traveled through Latin between Greek and English, taking on the form lapis sarcophagus before being shortened to sarcophagus. It's not clear whether the ancient Romans believed that a certain type of limestone from the region around Troy would dissolve flesh (and thus was desirable for making coffins). That assertion came from Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, but he also reported such phenomena as dog-headed people and elephants who wrote Greek. Regardless, there is no doubt that the ancient Greek word for the limestone combined sárx, meaning "flesh," with a derivative of phagein, a verb meaning "to eat."

Examples of sarcophagus in a Sentence

the crypt under the abbey church contains the sarcophagus of the monastery's founding abbot

Recent Examples on the Web Archaeologists in France have discovered a limestone sarcophagus, undisturbed since its construction some 1,800 years ago. —

Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023 The sarcophagus of Ptahemwia, treasurer to Ramesses II, was found inscribed with emblems to Nut, who was likewise found in art uncovered at the temple of Esna, which also depicts the gods of the sun and the moon in the other world. —

Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022 The discovery of a second lead sarcophagus, which is engraved with dolphins, was announced last month. —

Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023 Even a federal jury, however, can’t close this sarcophagus lid. —

Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 1 Aug. 2023 Under the water, the archaeological ruins of an ancient sarcophagus, estimated to be more than 1,500 years old, can be seen just off the shore of Pocukmarak Bay. —

Anja Mutic, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2023 While Gaza is a site of frequent aerial bombardment and a land, air, and sea blockade imposed by Israeli and Egyptian officials, the sarcophagus remains intact. —

Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 17 Feb. 2023 Researchers working at the sprawling site found the first lead sarcophagus, which is decorated with reliefs of grapes and vines, earlier this year. —

Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023 Some of the items dated back to 1500 B.C., according to Unclaimed Baggage, and included a mummified hawk sarcophagus and a wood face sarcophagus mask, among others. —

Haley Laurence | Hlaurence@al.com, al, 21 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sarcophagus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, after lapis sarcophagus "kind of stone with caustic properties used for coffins," partial translation of Greek líthos sarkóphagos, literally, "flesh-eating stone"; sarkóphagos from sarko- sarco- + -phagos -phagous

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sarcophagus was in 1619

See more words from the same year