How Do You Spell CHARNEL-HOUSE?

Pronunciation: [t͡ʃˈɑːnə͡lhˈa͡ʊs] (IPA)

The word "charnel-house" refers to a building or place where dead bodies are kept. The spelling of the word can be explained using the IPA phonetic transcription as /ˈtʃɑːnəl/ and /haʊs/. The first syllable "charnel" is pronounced with a "ch" sound followed by "ar" and "nel" - which is pronounced with a short "e" vowel sound. The second part of the word "house" is pronounced with a long "o" sound and the ending "s" is pronounced as "z". Hence, the complete pronunciation of the word is "cha-nuhl-houz".

CHARNEL-HOUSE Meaning and Definition

  1. A charnel-house is a noun that refers to a building or place used for the storage or exhibition of human bones and remains. Derived from the Medieval Latin term "carnale," meaning "flesh," it signifies a repository where deceased bodies are deposited after death or disinterred from their graves. Historically, charnel-houses were commonly attached to churches, monasteries, or cemeteries, serving as ossuaries or mortuaries.

    Often associated with the Middle Ages and earlier periods, charnel-houses were utilized primarily due to limited burial space in overcrowded graveyards or as a solution to deal with the remains of those who died during plagues, natural disasters, or violent conflicts. These repositories typically featured stacked skulls, bones, and fragmented remains of the deceased, symbolizing the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death.

    Charnel-houses hold a certain fascination due to their macabre nature, and in literature and art, they can represent mortality, the fragility of life, and the passage of time. They have also played a role in cultural and religious traditions, serving as a reminder of mortality and the importance of spiritual contemplation.

    Today, while the use of charnel-houses is less common, they can still be found in some regions as cultural or historical sites, preserving the memory of the dead and offering a unique reflection on the human condition across different historical periods.

Common Misspellings for CHARNEL-HOUSE

  • carnel house
  • charne house
  • charneel house
  • charnel house
  • charnal house
  • charnelphouse
  • charnel0-house
  • charnel-0house
  • charnel-phouse
  • charnel--house
  • charnelmhouse
  • charnel-hoeuse
  • Charanel House
  • Charneal House

Etymology of CHARNEL-HOUSE

The word "charnel-house" has an interesting etymology. It originated from the Old French term "charnel" which meant "flesh". The Old French "charnel" derived from the Late Latin word "carnālis", meaning "pertaining to the flesh". The term was used specifically to describe a building or place where bones and corpses were piled or stored, often associated with a cemetery or church. Over time, the term "charnel-house" became used in English to refer to such buildings or places. The word "charnel" ultimately traces back to the Latin word "carnis", meaning "flesh".

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