suttee

noun

sut·​tee (ˌ)sə-ˈtē 

ˈsə-ˌtē

variants or less commonly sati

: the act or custom of a Hindu widow burning herself to death or being burned to death on the funeral pyre of her husband

also : a woman burned to death in this way

Word History

Etymology

Hindi satī wife who performs suttee, from Sanskrit, devoted woman, from feminine of sat true, good; akin to Old English sōth true — more at sooth

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above