Grave

Among the ancient Hebrews graves were outside of cities in the open field (Luke 7:12; John 11:30). Kings (1 Kings 2:10) and prophets (1 Sam. 25:1) were generally buried within cities. Graves were generally grottoes or caves, natural or hewn out in rocks (Isa. 22:16; Matt. 27:60). There were family cemeteries (Gen. 47:29; 50:5; 2 Sam. 19:37). Public burial-places were assigned to the poor (Jer. 26:23; 2 Kings 23:6). Graves were usually closed with stones, which were whitewashed, to warn strangers against contact with them (Matt. 23:27), which caused ceremonial pollution (Num. 19:16). There were no graves in Jerusalem except those of the kings, and according to tradition that of the prophetess Huldah.

[Burial, Sepulchres]

GRAVE. See Burial, Engrave, Hell.

GRAVE. See Burial, Engrave, Hell.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

An excavation in the earth as a place of burial; also, any place of interment; a tomb; a sepulcher. Hence: Death; destruction. He bad lain in the grave four days. John xi. 17. Grave wax, adipocere.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

(Naut.) To clean, as a vessel's bottom, of barnacles, grass, etc., and pay it over with pitch; -- so called because graves or greaves was formerly used for this purpose.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To dig. [Obs.] Chaucer. He hath graven and digged up a pit. Ps. vii. 16 (Book of Common Prayer).

2. To carve or cut, as letters or figures, on some hard substance; to engrave. Thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel. Ex. xxviii. 9.

3. To carve out or give shape to, by cutting with a chisel; to sculpture; as, to grave an image. With gold men may the hearte grave. Chaucer.

4. To impress deeply (on the mind); to fix indelibly. O! may they graven in thy heart remain. Prior.

5. To entomb; to bury. [Obs.] Chaucer. Lie full low, graved in the hollow ground. Shak.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To write or delineate on hard substances, by means of incised lines; to practice engraving.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Of great weight; heavy; ponderous. [Obs.] His shield grave and great. Chapman.

2. Of importance; momentous; weighty; influential; sedate; serious; - - said of character, relations, etc.; as, grave deportment, character, influence, etc. Most potent, grave, and reverend seigniors. Shak. A grave and prudent law, full of moral equity. Milton.

3. Not light or gay; solemn; sober; plain; as, a grave color; a grave face.

4. Slow and solemn in movement. Grave accent. (Pron.) See the Note under Accent, n., 2.

Synonyms: Solemn; sober; serious; sage; staid; demure; thoughtful; sedate; weighty; momentous; important. Grave, Sober, Serious, Solemn. Sober supposes the absence of all exhilaration of spirits, and is opposed to gay or flighty; as, sober thought. Serious implies considerateness or reflection, and is opposed to jocose or sportive; as, serious and important concerns. Grave denotes a state of mind, appearance, etc., which results from the pressure of weighty interests, and is opposed to hilarity of feeling or vivacity of manner; as, a qrave remark; qrave attire. Solemn is applied to a case in which gravity is carried to its highest point; as, a solemn admonition; a solemn promise.