sarcophagus

[ sahr-kof-uh-guhs ]

noun

, plural sar·coph·a·gi [sahr-, kof, -, uh, -jahy], sar·coph·a·gus·es.

1. a stone coffin, especially one bearing sculpture, inscriptions, etc., often displayed as a monument.
2. Greek Antiquity. a kind of stone thought to consume the flesh of corpses, used for coffins.

sarcophagus

/ sɑːˈkɒfəɡəs /

noun

1. a stone or marble coffin or tomb, esp one bearing sculpture or inscriptions

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek sarkophágos, noun use of the adj.; sarcophagous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sarcophagus¹

C17: via Latin from Greek sarkophagos flesh-devouring; from the type of stone used, which was believed to destroy the flesh of corpses

Example Sentences

The boy-king's priceless collection is yet to be displayed, but visitors can now see items varying from pharaonic statues to sarcophagi and mummified bodies.

From BBC

With that, they went to a commercial break, and you could hear the sarcophagus slam shut on Vance’s smiling fascism.

From Salon

He lives there in a stone-walled house he calls Stargate Manor, a temple of expensive kitsch with its own arboretum, chapel — where George prays to Jesus, Buddha and Mother Nature — and waiting sarcophagus.

From Los Angeles Times

About five hours into Ultros, you realize this heady biome is both a sarcophagus and the place of birth for something dark and unknown.

From New York Times

Swirling sands wrapped the dead trees in a natural sarcophagus.

From New York Times

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