necropolis
Plural: necropoleis, necropoles, necropoli, necropolises
Noun
- a tract of land used for burials
- A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a city.
- An ancient site used for burying the dead, particularly if consisting of elaborate grave monuments.
- A city or settlement where most people are dead and/or dying.
Origin / Etymology
Borrowed from Koine Greek νεκρόπολις (nekrópolis, “city of the dead, cemetery”) (used to describe part of the city of Alexandria, Egypt), from Ancient Greek νεκρός (nekrós, “dead”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- (“to disappear; to perish”)) + πόλις (pólis, “city”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tpelH- (“city; fortification”)). The English word is analysable as necro- + -polis, and is cognate with French nécropole, German Nekropolis, Late Latin necropolis.
The plural form necropoleis is derived from Ancient Greek νεκροπόλεις (nekropóleis).
Synonyms
burial ground, burial site, burying ground, cemetery, graveyard, memorial park, Boot Hill, God's acre, boneyard, camposanto, churchyard, crypt, gravestead, kirkyard, lichyard, marble orchard, necropole
Scrabble Score: 14
necropolis: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordnecropolis: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
necropolis: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary