ashes

¹ British  

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

1. ruins or remains, as after destruction or burning

   the city was left in ashes

2. the remains of a human body after cremation

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Ashes ² British  

/ ˈæʃɪz /

plural noun

1. a cremated cricket stump in a pottery urn now preserved at Lord's. Victory or defeat in test matches between England and Australia is referred to as winning, losing, or retaining the Ashes

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Etymology

Origin of Ashes

from the mock obituary of English cricket in The Times in 1882 after a great Australian victory at the Oval, in which it was said that the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia

Example Sentences

He lost his home in the Eaton fire in January and said on a GoFundMe page that his family was left with only ashes.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, her family says, thieves drove off with a gold necklace that was priceless to her because it carried the ashes of her late daughter.

From Los Angeles Times

"His ashes have arrived in Colombia," a woman who identified herself as his cousin told AFP.

From Barron's

Andersen Group’s shares climbed 47% in their debut on the New York Stock Exchange as investors backed the firm that emerged from the ashes of Arthur Andersen’s collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal

‘You either rise from the ashes or you get consumed by them.’

From Los Angeles Times