sepulchral

Learned borrowing from Latin sepulcralis.

• IPA^(key): /səˈpʌlkɹəl/, /səˈpʊlkɹəl/

• Audio (Southern England):

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sepulchral (comparative more sepulchral, superlative most sepulchral)

1. Relating to a grave or to death; funereal.
2. Suggestive of a grave or of death; gloomy; solemn.
   • 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 214:

     He alluded constantly to Europe, to the people I was supposed to know there - putting leading questions as to my acquaintances in the sepulchral city, and so on.

   • 1999, Cheryl Mendelson, Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House, New York: Scribner, →ISBN, page 6:

     Over and over I found myself visiting homes where the predominant feeling was sepulchral, dusty, and deserted […]

3. Having a hollow and deep sound.
   • 1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 163:

     As for your treatment of ME," concluded Uncle Tinfish, almost having another disaster to his vocal chords at the thought of it, "I wash my hands of you, sir - I renounce you - I " Uncle Tinfish's voice was suddenly lowered to a tone of sepulchral hollowness.

   • 1995, Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy: a Trilogy in Five Parts, →ISBN, page 367:

     'The Master of Krikkit,' said Slartibartfast again, and if his breathing had been sepulchral before, this time he sounded like someone in Hades with bronchitis.

• sepulchre

• Heroon