sepulchre

noun

sep·ul·chre | \ ˈse-pəl-kər

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-pəl-k(ə-)riŋ

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

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 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.