Hi all,

Cemetery was first used in the 14th century by Greek Christian writers. In comes via the late Latin coemeterium from the Greek koimeterion which oroginally meant dormitory (as said above). It was a derivative of the verb koiman 'put to sleep'. The Greek Christian writers used it to mean burial ground, but in a euphimisic sense. It is probably tied to the Book of Revelations discussion of the dead rising from their graves (sort of sleeping). In the early 19th century, when the modern cemeteries in Paris and London were being established - large areas, with meadows, streams, etc. the term began being used for them. It later became part of the official terms used by the developing funeral industry. Other words: "funeral director" instead of undertaker (although today many of them like the term "grief counselor" as well, "casket" instead of coffin, "Client" instead of cadaver or corpse, "cremains" instead of ashes - cremated + remains = cremains.

pax yall