ossuary

noun

os·​su·​ary ˈä-shə-ˌwer-ē How to pronounce ossuary (audio)
-syə-,
-sə-
plural ossuaries
: a depository for the bones of the dead

Examples of ossuary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The ossuary remained inaccessible from the late 16th century until the middle of the 20th, when the Church of San Pablo underwent a major renovation and cupolas were added to replace the original wooden roof. Franz Lidz Meghan Dhaliwal, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2023 Among them is the ossuary where six million Parisians find their resting place. Ingrid Rojas Contreras, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023 The forest is also the site of several memorials, including a cemetery with over 16,000 graves and an ossuary filled with the remains of soldiers on both sides of the battle. Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2018 It will be returned to the Catacombs Museum in Paris, to join the collections of the ossuary, DHS said. CBS News, 4 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for ossuary 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin ossuarium, from Latin, neuter of ossuarius of bones, from Old Latin ossua, plural of oss-, os

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ossuary was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near ossuary

Cite this Entry

“Ossuary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ossuary. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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