sarcophagus
noun
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Body-eating coffins might sound like something out of a horror film, but flesh-eating stone? The latter plays a role in the etymology of sarcophagus; it is the literal translation of líthos sarkóphagos, the Greek phrase that underlies the English term. The phrase traveled through Latin between Greek and English, taking on the form lapis sarcophagus before being shortened to sarcophagus. It's not clear whether the ancient Romans believed that a certain type of limestone from the region around Troy would dissolve flesh (and thus was desirable for making coffins); that assertion came from Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, but he also reported such phenomena as dog-headed people and elephants who wrote Greek. Regardless, there is no doubt that the ancient Greek word for the limestone traces back to a combination of sárx, meaning "flesh," and a derivative of phagein, a verb meaning "to eat."
Examples of sarcophagus in a Sentence
Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
In another crafty move, Focus Features is selling full-scale replicas of the sarcophagus for $20,000 a piece.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
The theater chain has revealed a Nosferatu popcorn sarcophagus (below) for the upcoming Robert Eggers horror film.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2024
In 1924: King Tut’s sarcophagus was uncovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Sarcophagus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcophagus. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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sarcophagus
noun
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