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Mummify: meaning, definitions and examples

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mummify

 

[ ˈmʌməfaɪ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

ancient practice

To mummify means to preserve a body after death by drying it out and embalming it, often in the context of ancient Egyptian funerary practices. The process involves removing internal organs and treating the body with oils and resins to prevent decay.

Synonyms

desiccate, dry, embalm, preserve

Examples of usage

  • The ancient Egyptians would mummify their pharaohs.
  • The museum displayed a mummified body from ancient times.
  • Researchers studied how ancient cultures would mummify their dead.

Translations

Translations of the word "mummify" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mumificar

🇮🇳 ममिफ़ाई करना

🇩🇪 einbalsamieren

🇮🇩 mummifikasi

🇺🇦 муміфікувати

🇵🇱 mumifikować

🇯🇵 ミイラにする

🇫🇷 momifier

🇪🇸 mumificar

🇹🇷 mumyalama

🇰🇷 미라로 만들다

🇸🇦 تحنيط

🇨🇿 mumifikovat

🇸🇰 mumifikovať

🇨🇳 制成木乃伊

🇸🇮 mumificirati

🇮🇸 mumifera

🇰🇿 мумиялау

🇬🇪 მუმიფიკაცია

🇦🇿 mumiyalaşdırmaq

🇲🇽 momificar

Etymology

The word 'mummify' originates from the medieval Latin term 'mumia', which referred to a substance used in embalming, derived from the Arabic 'mūmiya'. This Arabic term was borrowed from the Persians, who used it to describe bitumen and later associated it with the process of preserving corpses in ancient Egypt. The term became popularized in the 17th century when European scholars became fascinated with Egyptian antiquities and mummification practices. The Egyptian method of mummification involved complex rituals and was closely tied to their religious beliefs regarding the afterlife, leading to the preservation of bodies for thousands of years. As archaeology progressed, the understanding of these processes deepened, anchoring the word 'mummify' firmly in discussions surrounding ancient civilizations and cultural practices.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,889, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.