Obsequies

//ˈɔbsɪ.kwiːz// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Funeral rites. plural, plural-only

    "A murmur of astonishment ran through the chapel. It was hushed instantly, for, at a sign from Lord Avonleigh, the coffin was carried into the vault; and again the voice of the priest was the only sound, breathing the last and solemn benediction of the mournful obsequies."

  2. 2
    plural of obsequy. form-of, plural
  3. 3
    plural of obsequie. form-of, plural

Synonyms

All synonyms
burialceremonydeathwatchdirgeeulogyextreme unction

Example

More examples

"And after he rose up from the funeral obsequies, he spoke to the children of Heth, saying: I am a stranger and sojourner among you: give me the right of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead."

Etymology

Plural of obsequy; from Middle English obsequias, obsequies, obsequyes, from Latin obsequiae.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.