catacomb

Betekenis (Engels)

An underground system of tunnels and chambers with recesses for graves, used (in former times) as a cemetery; a tunnel system used for burying the dead, as in Paris or Ancient Rome.

Concepten

catacombe

dodenstad

Synoniemen

crypt

tomb

vault

underground cemetery

Vertalingen

catacomba

Katakombe

catacumba

catacombe

catacumba

catacumba

κατακόμβη

catacumbas

catacumbes

katakomp

Nekropole

Totenstadt

κατακόμβες

Uitgesproken als (IPA)

/ˈkætəkuːm/

Etymologie (Engels)

Overgenomen van Middelengels: catacombe

In summary

From Middle English catacombe, from Old English catacumbe, catacumbas pl, from Late Latin catacumbae pl, name of the underground cemetery of St. Sebastian in Rome, of unclear origin. Perhaps a dissimilation (influenced by *cumbō (“to lie, recline”)) of Late Latin cata tumbās (literally “among the tombs”) (from Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “under”) and τύμβος (túmbos, “tomb”)). Some sources suggest Ancient Greek κύμβη (kúmbē, “drinking vessel”) as an alternative etymon, but the semantic link is unclear.