Cenotaph

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛn.əˌtɑːf/

Definitions

1. A historical structure built to commemorate individuals whose remains are not located at the site often symbolizes mourning and remembrance
2. This refers to a memorial erected in honor of someone whose body lies elsewhere, serving as a symbol of loss and respect
3. A ceremonial monument intended to honor a deceased person whose remains are located elsewhere, it often represents collective grief and tribute

Etymology: The Greek roots are plain: "kenos" meant "empty" and "taphos" meant "tomb," so the word literally names an empty tomb. The Greeks used the idea in practice. Their memorials honoured people whose bodies were lost or buried elsewhere, and the form gave a place for mourning without a body beneath it. The word reached English through French "cénotaphe," which is itself borrowed from Greek. Its sense has stayed close to the original: a monument raised to someone whose remains lie somewhere else, or nowhere at all. Many modern war memorials follow this pattern, commemorating soldiers who died abroad or whose bodies were never recovered.

Synonyms: memorial, monument