Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “necropolis” come from?

Necropolis comes from Ancient Greek nekropolis, formed from neḱrós meaning "dead" via Proto-Indo-European neḱ-, a root relating to death and corpses.

necropolis (English): A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a...

Definitions

  1. A cemetery; especially a large one in or near a...

Ancestry of “necropolis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Koine Greekνεκρόπολις—
2Ancient Greekπόλιςcity; a whole country, as dependent on and called...
3Proto-Hellenicptóliscity
4Proto-Indo-EuropeantpólHis—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeantpelH-fortification, city
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tpelH- →