Nekropolis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A burial place or cemetery, often characterized by elaborate tombs and monuments for the deceased
2. An ancient or historic site designated for the interment of the dead, typically featuring large structures and a layout for memorial purposes
3. A designated area for graves, known for its historical significance and architectural features that honor those laid to rest

Etymology: The Greek word "nekropolis" was a place name before it was a general noun. In Koine Greek it described a district of Alexandria in Egypt, where the dead were buried in an area set apart from the living city. The name combines "nekros", meaning "dead", with "polis", meaning "city", so the literal sense is "city of the dead". The idea was a neat one: a whole quarter of tombs, laid out like a town, with its own streets of monuments. English took the word over from that Greek usage and kept its form, which is why it still looks so obviously built from familiar parts. Its modern sense is a large, often elaborate burial ground, and the plural is "necropoleis", taken directly from the Greek plural "nekropoleis".

Synonyms: cemetery, graveyard, burial ground, necropolis