cremation etymology

Etymology

The word "cremation" comes from the Latin word "crema," meaning "to burn, set afire." It ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root "ker," which also gave rise to the English words "char," "charcoal," and "torch."

Meaning

Cremation is the act of burning a deceased person's body to ashes. It is a method of disposing of human remains that has been practiced by many cultures throughout history.

Origin

The practice of cremation has been documented as far back as the Paleolithic era, with evidence of burnt human bones found in archaeological sites in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In ancient Greece and Rome, cremation was a common way to dispose of the dead, and was often associated with rituals and ceremonies.

In the Middle Ages, cremation was discouraged by the Christian Church, which viewed it as a pagan practice. However, cremation began to regain popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Europe and North America. This was due in part to the rise of cremation societies, which promoted cremation as a more sanitary and economical alternative to burial.

Today, cremation is a widely accepted method of disposing of human remains, and is practiced by people of all religions and cultures.

cremation relate terms

• cerveza

  Etymology The word cerveza comes from the Latin cerevisia which means beer This w

• cremation

  Etymology The word cremation comes from the Latin word crema meaning to burn set a

• cremate

  Etymology Derived from Latin cremare to burn Ultimately from Proto Indo European ro

• cremation

  Etymology The word cremation comes from the Latin word crema meaning to burn set a

• suttee

  Etymology The word suttee comes from the Sanskrit word sati which means faithful wi

• Babel

  Etymology The word Babel is derived from the Akkadian word Babilim which means The

• modesty

  Etymology of Modesty The word modesty originates from the Latin word modestia whic

• cologne

  Etymology The word cologne comes from the Latin word aqua colonia which means water

• instruction

  Etymology The word instruction comes from the Latin word instructio which means a b

• binge

  Etymology Binge noun Mid 16th century from Dutch bing a heap pile binge Bing

• arithmetic

  Etymology The word arithmetic is derived from the Greek word ἀριθμός arithm

• victim

  Etymology of Victim The word victim is derived from the Latin word victima which

• scarlet

  Etymology Middle English scarlet from Old French escarlate from Late Latin scarlatum