burial

• buriall (obsolete)

From Middle English beriel, a backformation from Old English byrġels, which was re-interpreted as a plural, itself from byrġan (“to bury”) + -els. By surface analysis, bury +‎ -al, but originally unrelated to this suffix.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛɹɪəl/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛɹiəl/
• (regional US) IPA^(key): /ˈbɝiəl/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: (Received Pronunciation) -ɛɹɪəl, (General American) -ɛɹiəl

burial (countable and uncountable, plural burials)

1. The act of burying; interment; placing remains into the earth.

   His whole family was present at his burial.

   The mourners listened as the priest performed the burial service of long-time parishioner Wendy Stuart.

   • 1912, George Leo de St. M. Watson, Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, A Polish Exile with Napoleon, page 276:

     A dreary year for the Squadron, this 1819, when officers and men fell sick by the shipload and were sent home by the tenderful, when Lemon Valley Hospital was supplemented by the one at High Peak, when Court-Martials were held at the rate of one a fortnight, burials thrice a week, and surveys on foul provisions every other day!

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 206:

     However, many Cromlechs and Dolmins are carelessly called "Druid's circles", when in reality they were the burial places of ancient chieftains and their households[.]

• See also Thesaurus:interment