verb
exhume
ig-ZOOM/ɪɡˈzuːm/
To uncover something buried, especially a dead body.
The archaeologist exhumes the artifact by carefully brushing away the surrounding soil.
Etymology
“Out of” combines with “to bury” to express undoing a burial. The burial verb itself comes from humus “earth,” making the underlying image removal from the ground.
In context
brought by Booth family members to exhume Booth's body, and determine if it's really their infamous relative buried there.
More examples
- The family objects to exhuming their grandfather's remains.
- Workers accidentally exhume an old coffin while digging a foundation.
- The remains were exhumed and moved to a new cemetery.
Forms
exhume · exhumes · exhumed · exhuming
exhumation noun — The act of uncovering a buried body.
Similar words
- unearth
- Applies more broadly to buried objects and hidden information.
- disinter
- Specifically means to remove a dead body from its grave.