[fyoo-ner-uh
l] 
| 1. | the ceremonies for a dead person prior to burial or cremation; obsequies. |
| 2. | a funeral procession. |
| 3. | of or pertaining to a funeral: funeral services; funeral expenses. |
| 4. | be someone's funeral, Informal. to have unpleasant consequences for someone: If you don't finish the work on time, it will be your funeral! |
| fu·ner·al (fyōō'nər-əl) n.
[Middle English funerelles, funeral rites, from Old French funerailles, from Medieval Latin fūnerālia, neuter pl. of fūnerālis, funereal, from Late Latin, from Latin fūnus, fūner-, death rites; see dheuə- in Indo-European roots.] |
Funeral
Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses (Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 35:8, 9, etc.). The first traces of burning the dead are found in 1 Sam. 31:12. The burning of the body was affixed by the law of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). To leave the dead unburied was regarded with horror (1 Kings 13:22; 14:11; 16:4; 21:24, etc.). In the earliest times of which we have record kinsmen carried their dead to the grave (Gen. 25:9; 35:29; Judg. 16:31), but in later times this was done by others (Amos 6:16). Immediately after decease the body was washed, and then wrapped in a large cloth (Acts 9:37; Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46). In the case of persons of distinction, aromatics were laid on the folds of the cloth (John 19:39; comp. John 12:7). As a rule the burial (q.v.) took place on the very day of the death (Acts 5:6, 10), and the body was removed to the grave in an open coffin or on a bier (Luke 7:14). After the burial a funeral meal was usually given (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:5, 7; Hos. 9:4).
funeral
any of the ceremonial acts or customs employed at the time of death and burial
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