charnel

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French charnel, from Late Latin carnāle (“graveyard”), from Latin carnālis, or possibly an alteration of Anglo-Norman charner, from Medieval Latin carnārium (“charnel”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): [tʃɑːɹnəl]
• (UK) IPA^(key): [tʃɑːnəl]
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)nəl

Noun

charnel (plural charnels)

1. A chapel attached to a mortuary.
2. A repository for dead bodies.

Adjective

charnel (comparative more charnel, superlative most charnel)

1. Of or relating to a charnel, deathlike, sepulchral.
   • 1874, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night

     He murmured to himself with dull despair,

     Here Faith died, poisoned by this charnel air.

References

• OED2

Anagrams

• larchen

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French

Etymology

From Middle French charnel, from Old French charnel, inherited from Latin carnālis. Also analysable as a derivative of Old French charn (→ Modern French chair) + -el.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃaʁ.nɛl/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

charnel (feminine singular charnelle, masculine plural charnels, feminine plural charnelles)

1. carnal (relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites)

Further reading

• “charnel” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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Middle French

Etymology

Old French charnel.

Adjective

charnel m (feminine singular charnelle, masculine plural charnels, feminine plural charnelles)

1. carnal (relating to flesh)
2. carnal; corporal; bodily
3. carnal (relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites)

Descendants

• French: charnel

References

• charnel on Dictionnaire du Moyen Français (1330-1500) (in French)
• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (charnel, supplement)

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Old French

Etymology

From Latin carnālis.

Adjective

charnel m (oblique and nominative feminine singular charnel)

1. carnal (relating to the physical and especially sexual appetites)

Declension

Declension of charnel

Number	Case	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular	Subject	charnex	charnel	charnel
	Oblique	charnel	charnel	charnel
Plural	Subject	charnel	charnex	charnel
	Oblique	charnex	charnex	charnel

Descendants

• Middle French: charnel
  • English: charnel
  • French: charnel