catacomb
[ kat-uh-kohm ]
/ ˈkæt əˌkoʊm /
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noun
Usually catacombs. an underground cemetery, especially one consisting of tunnels and rooms with recesses dug out for coffins and tombs.
the Catacombs, the subterranean burial chambers of the early Christians in and near Rome, Italy.
an underground passageway, especially one full of twists and turns.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Origin of catacomb
First recorded before 900; Middle English catacombe, Old English catacumbe, from Late Latin catacumbās (accusative plural); of disputed origin; perhaps from unattested Greek katakýmbās, equivalent to kata- + kýmbās, accusative plural of kýmbē “hollow, cup”; see origin at cata-
OTHER WORDS FROM catacomb
cat·a·cum·bal [kat-uh-kuhm-buhl], /ˌkæt əˈkʌm bəl/, adjectiveWords nearby catacomb
cataclasis, cataclastic, cataclinal, cataclysm, cataclysmic, catacomb, catacrotism, catadicrotism, catadioptric, catadromous, catafalque
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for catacomb
British Dictionary definitions for catacomb
catacomb
/ (ˈkætəˌkəʊm, -ˌkuːm) /
noun
(usually plural) an underground burial place, esp the galleries at Rome, consisting of tunnels with vaults or niches leading off them for tombs
a series of interconnected underground tunnels or caves
Word Origin for catacomb
Old English catacumbe, from Late Latin catacumbas (singular), name of the cemetery under the Basilica of St Sebastian, near Rome; origin unknown
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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