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
Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
Known throughout the Eastern Mediterranean as a source for sarcophagus production, Assos is currently on UNESCO’s Tentative List of Heritage Sites.
—John Oseid, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Our heroes first find the eponymous Tin Man, for example, imprisoned in a metal sarcophagus, forced to watch video clips of his family being brutalized for decades.
—Emma Stefansky, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
Highlights will include a sarcophagus lid that hasn’t been seen by the general public in over a century as well as jewelry from places such as ancient Egypt and the Pre-Hispanic Americas.
—Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Sarcophagus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcophagus. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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sarcophagus
noun
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