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necrophilia

[nek-ruh-fil-ee-uh]
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noun Psychiatry.
  1. an erotic attraction to corpses.
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Origin of necrophilia

From New Latin, dating back to 1890–95; see origin at necro-, -philia
Related formsnec·ro·phile [nek-ruh-fahyl] /ˈnɛk rəˌfaɪl/, nounnec·ro·phil·i·ac [nek-ruh-fil-ee-ak] /ˌnɛk rəˈfɪl iˌæk/, nec·ro·phil·ic, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for necrophilia

necrophilia

noun
  1. sexual attraction for or sexual intercourse with dead bodiesAlso called: necromania, necrophilism
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Derived Formsnecrophiliac or necrophile (ˈnɛkrəʊˌfaɪl), nounnecrophilic, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for necrophilia

n.

1892, in Chaddock's translation of Krafft-Ebbing's "Psychopathia Sexualis," from necro- + -philia.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
necrophilia in Medicine

necrophilia

(nĕk′rə-fĭl′ē-ə)
n.
  1. An abnormal fondness for being in the presence of dead bodies.necromania
  2. Sexual contact with or erotic desire for dead bodies.
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Related formsnec′ro•phil′i•ac′ (-ē-ăk′) adj. n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.