Category:Funeral

Fu"ner*al, n. Etym: [LL. funeralia, prop. neut. pl. of funeralis of a funeral, fr. L. funus, funeris, funeral: cf. F. funérailles.]

1. The solemn rites used in the disposition of a dead human body, whether such disposition be by interment, burning, or otherwise; esp., the ceremony or solemnization of interment; obsequies; burial; -- formerly used in the plural. King James his funerals were performed very solemnly in the collegiate church at Westminster. Euller.

2. The procession attending the burial of the dead; the show and accompaniments of an interment. "The long funerals." Pope.

3. A funeral sermon; -- usually in the plural. [Obs.] Mr. Giles Lawrence preached his funerals. South.

funeral Fu"ner*al, a. Etym: [LL. funeralis. See Funeral, n.]

Defn: Per. taining to a funeral; used at the interment of the dead; as, funeral rites, honors, or ceremonies. Shak. Funeral pile, a structure of combustible material, upon which a dead body is placed to be reduced to ashes, as part of a funeral rite; a pyre. -- Fu"ner*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Funeral - Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses (Genesis 23:19; Genesis 25:9; Genesis 35:8, Genesis 35:9, etc.). The first traces of burning the dead are found in 1 Samuel 31:12. The burning of the body was affixed by the law of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes (Leviticus 20:14; Leviticus 21:9). To leave the dead unburied was regarded with horror (1 Kings 13:22; 1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4; 1 Kings 21:24, etc.). In the earliest times of which we have record kinsmen carried their dead to the grave (Genesis 25:9; Genesis 35:29; Judges 16:31), but in later times this was done by others (Amos 6:10). Immediately after decease the body was washed, and then wrapped in a large cloth (Acts 9:37; Matthew 27:59; Mark 15:46). In the case of persons of distinction, aromatics were laid on the folds of the cloth (John 19:39; compare John 12:7). As a rule the burial (q.v.) took place on the very day of the death (Acts 5:6, Acts 5:10), 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 Samuel 3:35; Jeremiah 16:5, Jeremiah 16:7; Hosea 9:4).