catacomb

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English[edit]

The catacombs of Paris.

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkætəkuːm/, /ˈkætəkəʊm/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkætəkoʊm/
  • (file)

Noun[edit]

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

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

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