mortuary

English

Etymology

From Middle English mortuary, from Anglo-Norman mortuarie (“gift to a parish priest from a deceased parishioner”), from Medieval Latin mortuārium (“receptacle for the dead; mortuary”), neuter form of mortuārius (“of or pertaining to the dead”), from Latin mortuus, perfect passive participle of morior (“to die”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔɹt͡ʃəˌwɛɹi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔːt͡ʃʊəɹi/, /ˈmɔːt͡ʃwəɹi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Adjective

mortuary (not comparable)

1. Of, or relating to death or a funeral; funereal.

Derived terms

• mortuary sword

Noun

mortuary (plural mortuaries)

1. A place where dead bodies are stored prior to burial or cremation; broadly, synonym of funeral home.

   Coordinate terms: deadhouse, morgue

2. (historical) A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner.

   Synonym: soulscot

Derived terms

• mortuary pole
• mortuary science

Related terms

• mortician
• soulscot

Translations

morgue — see morgue

See also

• (room in a mortuary where corpses are placed under a rinsing shower): lavatory

Anagrams

• marry out