cerement: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / LiteraryLiterary, Archaic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “cerement” mean?
A waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse; a shroud.
Anything that wraps or covers in the manner of a shroud; a concealing layer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes death, antiquity, mystery, and poetic solemnity.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely encountered in classic literature (e.g., Shakespeare) than in contemporary speech or writing.
Grammar
How to Use “cerement” in a Sentence
[cerement] of [material/obscurity]wrapped in [cerements]the [cerements] of [metaphorical covering]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cerement” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The body was ceremonially ceremented before interment. (archaic/rare)
American English
- (No common usage. 'Shrouded' is used.)
adverb
British English
- (No adverbial use.)
American English
- (No adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- (No adjectival use. 'Ceremental' is obsolete.)
American English
- (No adjectival use.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Rarely used, only in historical/archaeological contexts discussing burial practices or in literary analysis.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Possible in historical costuming or mortuary archaeology, but 'shroud' is vastly preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cerement”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cerement”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cerement”
- Misspelling as 'cerament' or 'cerrement'.
- Using it in a non-literary context where 'shroud' or 'wrapper' is appropriate.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable like 'sir' (preferred: 'sear' or 'see-er').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a very rare, literary, and archaic word. The common modern term is 'shroud'.
'Shroud' is the general, common term for a burial cloth. 'Cerement' is a specific, archaic term often implying waxed cloth and is used almost exclusively in literary or historical contexts.
Yes, this is its most likely modern use—to describe anything that wraps or conceals something completely, like 'cerements of fog' or 'cerements of bureaucracy'.
In British English: /ˈsɪəmənt/ (SEER-ment). In American English: /ˈsɪrəmənt/ (SEAR-uh-ment). The first syllable rhymes with 'beer' or 'ear'.
A waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.
Cerement is usually literary, archaic, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the cerements of time”
- “cerements of forgetfulness”
- “shrouded in cerements of mist”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SEE the MENT(al) image of a SERENE corpse wrapped in a waxy CEREcloth.' CERE + MENT.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSCURITY/IGNORANCE/DEATH IS A SHROUD (e.g., 'cerements of ignorance').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cerement' LEAST likely to be appropriately used?