mortuary

Meanings

1. Of or relating to death or a funeral; funereal.

1. A place where dead bodies are stored prior to burial or cremation; broadly, synonym of funeral home.
2. A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner.

Etymology

From Middle English mortuary, from Anglo-Norman mortuarie (“gift to a parish priest from a deceased parishioner”), from Medieval Latin mortuārium (“receptacle for the dead; mortuary”), neuter form of mortuārius (“of or pertaining to the dead”), from Latin mortuus, perfect passive participle of morior (“to die”).