cenotaph

Etymology

From French cénotaphe, from Ancient Greek κενός (kenós, “empty”) + τάφος (táphos, “tomb”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛn.əʊ.tæf/, /ˈsɛn.əʊ.tɑːf/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛn.ə.tæf/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

cenotaph (plural cenotaphs)

1. A monument erected to honour the dead whose bodies lie elsewhere; especially members of the armed forces who died in battle.
   • 1826, Mary Shelley, The Last Man, part 2, chapter 1

     […] tombs and cenotaphs were strewed thick around adorned by every renewing vegetation; […]