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Exhuming: meaning, definitions and examples

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exhuming

 

[ ɛɡˈzjuːmɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal proceedings

Exhuming refers to the act of digging up a body from the grave, usually for the purpose of forensic examination or to transfer it for reburial. This process is often undertaken in legal scenarios where the cause of death needs to be re-evaluated or where evidence in a criminal case is required. The act of exhuming is governed by legal regulations that vary by jurisdiction and often involves notifying authorities and obtaining specific permissions.

Synonyms

dig up, disinter, unearth

Examples of usage

  • The police decided to exhume the body for further investigation.
  • Exhuming the remains revealed crucial evidence for the case.
  • The family requested exhuming their ancestor for proper burial in their hometown.

Translations

Translations of the word "exhuming" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exumação

🇮🇳 अवशेष निकालना

🇩🇪 Exhumierung

🇮🇩 penggalian kembali

🇺🇦 екзгумація

🇵🇱 ekshumacja

🇯🇵 掘り起こし

🇫🇷 exhumation

🇪🇸 exhumación

🇹🇷 ceset çıkarma

🇰🇷 유골 발굴

🇸🇦 نبش القبر

🇨🇿 exhumace

🇸🇰 exhumácia

🇨🇳 掘墓

🇸🇮 ekshumacija

🇮🇸 grafaruppgröftun

🇰🇿 эксгумация

🇬🇪 ექსჰუმაცია

🇦🇿 ekshumasiya

🇲🇽 exhumación

Etymology

The word 'exhuming' comes from the Latin 'exhumare', which means 'to dig out of the ground'. This term is constructed from the prefix 'ex-' meaning 'out of' and 'humare', which relates to the ground or earth and is derived from 'humus', meaning 'soil'. The concept of exhuming has appeared in various cultures throughout history, often linked to ceremonial practices, legal investigations, or historical inquiries. Exhumations have been performed to gather evidence in criminal cases or to settle disputes over burial sites. In many legal systems, there are strict regulations surrounding exhumation to ensure it is done respectfully and legally, reflecting societal attitudes towards death, burial, and investigation.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,377, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.