sarcophagus
noun
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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
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
Plot details are being kept in the sarcophagus but Cronin is hoping to breathe modern life into ageless evil.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Dec. 2024
Hoult previously opened up to Deadline about the experience with his tiny co-stars, which also covered Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård) during one scene of the vampire in a sarcophagus.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024
Orlok has been in his sarcophagus for at least a hundred years, probably closer to two.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near sarcophagus
Cite this Entry
“Sarcophagus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcophagus. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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sarcophagus
noun
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