Word
inter
Phoneticsin·ter
/ˌɪnˈtɝ/
Definitions
01to bury a body
v. to bury a dead person in a grave or tomb, usually with a ceremony.
v. to place a corpse in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites. Transitive; requires a direct object.
“The fallen soldiers were interred in the national cemetery with full military honours.”
“After the state funeral, the monarch's remains were interred in the royal vault alongside those of her predecessors.”
Formal
Usage
Often used in the passive voice in news reports or historical accounts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02to confine
v. to trap or keep someone or something in a restricted place.
v. to confine or imprison, often in a restricted or isolated location. Transitive; less common than the sense of burial.
“The political prisoners were interred in a remote facility far from the city.”
“The ancient documents were interred in the deep archives of the university, hidden from public view for centuries.”
Literary · Formal
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'intern' (to confine during war) or 'inter' (to bury). While related, 'inter' is most frequently used for burial.
Etymology
From Middle English enteren, borrowed from Old French enterrer, enterer, from Vulgar Latin *interrāre (“to put in earth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/inter