Word
shiva
Phoneticsshi·va
US/ˈʃivə/
UK/ʃˈiːvɐ/
Definition
n. a seven-day period of deep sadness and memory in the Jewish faith after a close relative dies. During this time, family members stay at home and receive visitors who come to show support.
n. a period of seven days of formal mourning in Judaism, observed after the funeral of a first-degree relative. Typically involves staying at home and abstaining from work or celebrations while receiving condolences.
Examples
“The family is sitting shiva for their grandfather this week.”
“Friends and neighbors brought food to the house while the family sat shiva for their late mother.”
“The tradition of sitting shiva provides a structured environment for the bereaved to process their grief within the supportive embrace of their community.”
Examples
simple
“The family is sitting shiva for their grandfather this week.”
contextual
“Friends and neighbors brought food to the house while the family sat shiva for their late mother.”
complex
“The tradition of sitting shiva provides a structured environment for the bereaved to process their grief within the supportive embrace of their community.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'to sit shiva'. Often capitalised in religious contexts.
Real-World Examples
“Mount Kailash - a peak in the Himalayas near the border between Nepal and Tibet - is considered the spiritual home of the Hindu god Shiva.” “Many of them were traveling to or from a Himalayan peak that is revered by Hindus as the spiritual home of the god Shiva.” Etymology
From Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/shiva