exequy

American  

[ek-si-kwee] / ˈɛk sɪ kwi /

noun

exequies plural

1. Usually exequies. funeral rites or ceremonies; obsequies.

2. a funeral procession.

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Usage

What is an exequy? An exequy is a funeral procession, such as a hearse carrying the deceased person and cars of mourners driving in a slow line to a cemetery for burial. An exequy is also any formal ceremony for the burial, internment, or cremation of a deceased person in a religion or culture. The term can be used to reference a specific rite such as a religious service or the entire process from funeral to burial. A rare word, exequy is almost never used to describe one funeral or funeral rite, although it’s used to describe one funeral procession. Instead, the plural exequies is used to discuss more than one funeral or funeral rites, as well as more than one funeral procession. Example: The cars in the long exequy moved slowly through our neighborhood on their way to the cemetery.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• exequial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• exequies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of exequy

1350–1400; Middle English exequies (plural) < Medieval Latin, Latin exequiae literally, train of followers, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + sequ ( ī ) to follow) + -iae, feminine plural noun suffix