Entombed

Entombed is the past participle of the verb entomb, meaning placed into a tomb or tomb-like enclosure. It describes someone or something that has been buried in a tomb, as well as spaces or chambers that hold the deceased. The term can also be used metaphorically to denote confinement or sealing off.

Etymology: The word derives from en- (into, in) plus tomb, with the core sense of burial in a tomb. It entered English in the Middle Ages, through Old French or directly from tomb, which traces to Latin tumba/Tombe in older forms of the word.

Contexts: In archaeology and paleontology, fossils, artifacts, or remains may be described as entombed when preserved within sedimentary rock or other enclosing material. In mining, disasters, and news reporting, workers or victims may be described as entombed when trapped in a sealed space after a collapse. In funerary practices, entombment is the act of placing a deceased person in a tomb, mausoleum, sarcophagus, or other tomb structure, with entombed used to reference the disposition of remains.

Usage: The term is common in formal or descriptive writing and can also appear in metaphorical uses, such as describing a career or reputation being “entombed” by scandal or memory. Related concepts include entombment, burial, and tomb.

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