Mummying: meaning, definitions and examples
🧑🎤
mummying
[ ˈmʌmiɪŋ ]
wrap up
Mummying refers to the act of wrapping someone or something tightly in cloth or other materials, similar to the way ancient Egyptians preserved their dead. This practice is often associated with funerary customs in ancient cultures, particularly in Egypt, where mummification was a common method for preserving bodies for the afterlife. In a broader sense, it can also imply excessive care or overprotectiveness towards someone, as if wrapping them up to shield them from harm.
Synonyms
bandaging, preserving, wrapping.
Examples of usage
- The archaeologists discovered a mummying technique that predates known history.
- She joked about mummying her pet when it felt sick.
- The museum exhibited artifacts used for mummying during ancient Egyptian rituals.
Translations
Translations of the word "mummying" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mummificação
🇮🇳 मम्मी बनाना
🇩🇪 einbalsamieren
🇮🇩 mumi
🇺🇦 муміфікація
🇵🇱 mumifikacja
🇯🇵 ミイラ化
🇫🇷 momification
🇪🇸 momificación
🇹🇷 mumyalama
🇰🇷 미라화
🇸🇦 تحنيط
🇨🇿 mumifikace
🇸🇰 mumifikácia
🇨🇳 木乃伊化
🇸🇮 mumifikacija
🇮🇸 mumification
🇰🇿 мумиялау
🇬🇪 მუმიფიკაცია
🇦🇿 mumiyalaşdırma
🇲🇽 momificación
Etymology
The term 'mummying' originates from the word 'mummy', which itself comes from the Arabic word 'mūmiya', meaning 'bitumen' or 'asphalt'— substances used by ancient Egyptians during the embalming process. The practice began around 2600 BC during the period of the Old Kingdom in Egypt, when the desire for a well-preserved body became associated with the belief in an afterlife. The techniques developed for mummying involved removing internal organs, treating the body with natron (a natural salt), and wrapping it in numerous layers of linen. Over centuries, mummification practices evolved, influenced by cultural, religious, and social factors. The remains of mummies found in various regions have provided significant insight into the religious beliefs and daily life of ancient civilizations, making mummying a subject of both fascination and continued research.