disinter

[ dis-in-tur ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·in·terred, dis·in·ter·ring.

1. to take out of the place of interment; exhume; unearth.
2. to bring from obscurity into view:

   The actor's autobiography disinterred a past era.

disinter

/ ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜː /

verb

1. to remove or dig up; exhume
2. to bring (a secret, hidden facts, etc) to light; expose

Derived Forms

• ˌdisinˈterment, noun

Other Words From

• disin·terment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disinter¹

First recorded in 1605–15; dis- ¹ + inter

Example Sentences

In 2015, the Pentagon overruled the service and instructed the caskets to be disinterred and identified using the latest DNA technology.

From Time

Turner was disinterred on March 17, 1921, after his family asked that he be sent home.

From Washington Post

We wish, in short, to disinter the ‘good’ that lies with these bones.

From The Daily Beast

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy looked on as Pollard began to disinter the president with the backhoe.

From The Daily Beast

He was buried quite properly; and his friends came at the right time to disinter him.

From Project Gutenberg

Great was his anxiety when, the national danger over, he came down to disinter his hoard.

From Project Gutenberg

Poking about he contrived to disinter from various tins and ice-boxes some cold chicken and biscuits and a bottle of claret.

From Project Gutenberg

If we disinter thy body, and cease praying to God for thee, wilt thou be the less damned?

From Project Gutenberg

There was nothing for it but to wait till she could somehow or other disinter a fly and a horse, and, worst of all a driver.

From Project Gutenberg