cenotaph

[ sen-uh-taf, -tahf ]

noun

1. a sepulchral monument erected in memory of a deceased person whose body is buried elsewhere.

Cenotaph

¹

/ ˈsɛnəˌtɑːf /

noun

1. the Cenotaph
   the monument in Whitehall, London, honouring the dead of both World Wars: designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens: erected in 1920

cenotaph

²

/ ˈsɛnəˌtɑːf /

noun

1. a monument honouring a dead person or persons buried elsewhere

Derived Forms

• ˌcenoˈtaphic, adjective

Other Words From

• cen·o·taph·ic [sen-, uh, -, taf, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cenotaph¹

1595–1605; < Latin cenotaphium < Greek kenotáphion, equivalent to kenó ( s ) empty + -taphion ( táph ( os ) tomb + -ion diminutive suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cenotaph¹

C17: from Latin cenotaphium, from Greek kenotaphion, from kenos empty + taphos tomb

Example Sentences

Cleveland Police called the violence "staggering", with 43 people arrested after an event that started at the town's cenotaph.

From BBC

The youths were "angry" after seeing a man remove Palestinian flags from the cenotaph on social media, the CPS said.

From BBC

Twelve people were killed after a bomb exploded at the town's cenotaph on 8 November 1987, during a Remembrance Sunday ceremony.

From BBC

Ms Rogers said the knitted cenotaph and soldier are open to anyone to view at the reception building of the retirement village.

From BBC

Police community support officers are now guarding the cenotaph on the Esplanade, Rochdale, after the vandalism.

From BBC

Related Words

• gravestone
• headstone
• marker
• masterpiece
• mausoleum
• pillar
• shrine
• slab
• statue
• stele
• stone
• tablet
• testament
• tomb
• tombstone
• tribute