sarcophagus — a stone coffin, typically adorned with sculpture or inscription and associated with ancient civilizations
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a stone coffin, typically adorned with sculpture or inscription and associated with ancient civilizations
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɑːrkəfəɡəs/
Example Sentences
- The museum's star attraction was a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus that tourists kept trying to take selfies with.
- Archaeologists carefully opened the sarcophagus, hoping to find treasure but instead discovered ancient mummy wrappings and a very disappointed expression.
- The pharaoh's sarcophagus was so heavy that it took twenty people to move it into the pyramid.
sarcophagus
NOUN[/ˈsɑːrkəfəɡəs/]
a stone coffin, typically adorned with sculpture or inscription and associated with ancient civilizations
Ancient decorated stone coffin
Asparagus placed near the esophagus in the ancient sarcophagus
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Greek sarkophagos, literally meaning 'flesh-eating stone.' Ancient Greeks believed that certain types of limestone could rapidly decompose bodies, leading them to name burial chambers after this property of the stone.
Breakdown
sarko- (flesh, from Greek sarx) + -phagos (eating, from Greek phagein meaning to eat)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The museum's star attraction was a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus that tourists kept trying to take selfies with.”
“Archaeologists carefully opened the sarcophagus, hoping to find treasure but instead discovered ancient mummy wrappings and a very disappointed expression.”
“The pharaoh's sarcophagus was so heavy that it took twenty people to move it into the pyramid.”
“The sarcophagus was decorated with intricate carvings telling the story of the deceased's journey to the afterlife.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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