Exhumed
/ɪɡˈzjuːmd/
verbC1past tense
Definition
Exhumed means to dig up or remove a buried body or object from the ground. This is often done by experts like doctors or police to study the body or move it for special reasons. It is not a common action and usually happens carefully and officially.
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See It in Action
To dig up a dead body from the ground
- •The police exhumed the body to investigate the cause of death.
- •The archaeologists exhumed ancient human remains during their dig.
- •The family decided to exhume the grave to move the coffin to a new place.
To remove something buried underground for study or examination
- •The scientists exhumed old artifacts to learn about past cultures.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'exhumed' like 'dug up,' but for bodies or important things buried underground.
- ✓Picture a grave where a body is buried, and workers carefully open the ground to take the body out.
- ✓It can feel serious or sad because it involves something that was resting quietly underground.
- ✓Sounds like 'ex-HOOMED' → imagine a ghost (like 'boom' sound) coming out of the ground when someone digs.
- ✓In movies, detectives sometimes exhume bodies to find clues about a crime.
- ✓NOT like 'buried' (put into the ground), 'exhumed' is the opposite — taking out from the ground.
- ✓NOT like 'unearthed' (which can mean finding things like treasure), 'exhumed' is mainly for bodies or important remains.
- ✓NOT like 'dig' (general action), 'exhume' is a formal, careful digging to remove something buried.
Try Other Words
- •Unearthed: found or took something out of the ground (Use when talking about objects or discoveries, less formal)
- •Disinterred: took a body out of the grave (Use in formal or legal contexts, similar to exhumed)
- •Dug up: removed by digging (Use in casual speech for any buried thing)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'ex-' (out) + 'hume' (from Latin 'humus' meaning ground or soil)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'exhumare,' meaning to take out of the ground
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to describe removing buried bodies or things
- •Modern usage: Mainly used in legal, medical, or archaeological contexts when bodies or objects are dug up carefully
Reflect & Connect
•Why might someone want to exhume a body many years after burial?
•How do you think people feel about the idea of exhuming graves? Is it respectful or disturbing?
Fill in the blanks
1.The police exhumed the body ___ the investigation could continue.
2.When a body is exhumed, it is usually done ___ and with permission.
3.Exhumed is different from buried because it means to take something ___ the ground.
4.Archaeologists exhumed the ancient bones to ___ more about the past.
5.The family wanted to exhume the grave to ___ the coffin to another cemetery.
6.Unlike casual digging, exhuming is a ___ and careful process.
7.If a body is exhumed, we can infer that there is a ___ reason behind it.