Wiktionary

catacomb

English

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The catacombs of Paris.

Etymology

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From Middle English catacombe, from Old English catacumbe, catacumbas pl, from Late Latin catacumbae pl, name of the underground cemetery of St. Sebastian in Rome, of unclear origin. Perhaps a dissimilation (influenced by *cumbō (“to lie, recline”)) of Late Latin cata tumbās (literally “among the tombs”) (from Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “under”) and τύμβος (túmbos, “tomb”)).[1][2] Some sources suggest Ancient Greek κύμβη (kúmbē, “drinking vessel”) as an alternative etymon, but the semantic link is unclear.[3]

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkætəkuːm/, (less often) /ˈkætəkəʊm/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkætəkoʊm/, (less often) /ˈkætəkum/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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catacomb (plural catacombs)

  1. (often plural) An underground system of tunnels and chambers with recesses for graves, used (in former times) as a cemetery; a tunnel system used for burying the dead, as in Paris or Ancient Rome.
    Hypernym: cuniculus
    Meronyms: crypt, ossuary

Derived terms

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Translations

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References

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  1. ^ Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “tǔmba”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volumes 13: To–Tyrus, page 411
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “catacomb”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. ^ “catacomb, n.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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