exequy
Americannoun
-
exequies
plural
-
Usually exequies. funeral rites or ceremonies; obsequies.
-
a funeral procession.
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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even allowing for the high rhetorical tint required of such exequies 150 years ago, it's hard to think of an American artist whose death, tomorrow, would inspire such sentiments.
From Time Magazine Archive
The exequies over the body were as solemn as they were premature; dust devils of argument spun through art magazines, scattering the ashes.
From Time Magazine Archive
Retire, brave followers, unto Troynouant, Where we shall celebrate these exequies, And place young Locrine in his father's tomb.
From Locrine/Mucedorus by Shakespeare (spurious and doubtful works)
The tragick pomp of his sad exequies, And deadly burning torches are at hand, I must accompany the mornefull troope: And sacryfice my teares to the Gods below.
From The Tragedy Of Caesar's Revenge by Anonymous
He had in his fellowship chariots, carts and horsemen, and was a great tourbe and company, and came over Jordan where as they hallowed the exequies by great wailing seven days long.
From Bible Stories and Religious Classics by Philip P. Wells
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
