humare

to bury

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Forensic team carefully lifts intact coffin from ground, respectful no exposed corpse.

noun

exhumation

eks-hyoo-MAY-shun/ˌekshjuːˈmeɪʃn/

The act of digging up something buried, especially a body.

Etymology

exLatinout, away; also thoroughly

+humLatinto bury

+ationLatinan action, process, or result

The pieces describe the act of taking something out of burial. Since humare “to bury” comes from humus “earth,” the word preserves the image of bringing a body back out of the ground.

Full entry

Related word entries

exhumation
exhume