mortuary, a. and n.
(ˈmɔːtjuːərɪ)
Also 6 erron. mortarie.
[ad. L. mortuāri-us adj. (med.L. mortuārium neut., used as n.), f. mortu-us dead: see -ary. Cf. F. mortuaire (AF. mortuarie n., 1302–3), Pg. mortuario.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to the burial of the dead.
| 1514 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., Rec{ddd}for þe wast off iiij mortuary taperys. 1705 Greenhill Art Embalm. 323 Near the Pyramids and mortuary Caves. 1791 Cowper Wks. (1837) XV. 227, I enclose a copy of my last mortuary verses. 1826 Scott Diary 8 Apr. in Lockhart Life, He carried me with him as often as he could to these mortuary ceremonies. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 415 The ancient mortuary chambers were filled, after the lapse of centuries, by new occupants. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 13 Feb. 5/1 The mortuary chapel which now rises over his grave was only erected some thirty years ago. |
2. Of, concerned with, or depending upon death; relating to or reminiscent of death.
| 1540 Taverner Postils, Passion Sondaye, Pourge oure consciences from dead or mortuarie workes. 1651 J. Marius Adv. Conc. Bills Exch. 65 You must..demand the mony of his Executors..at his Mortuary House or last dwelling House. 1796 Burke Let. Noble Ld. Wks. VIII. 6 His attack upon me and my mortuary pension. [Cf. supra, p. 5, where Burke speaks of himself as ‘hardly to be classed with the living’.] 1855 Jrnl. Archæol. Assoc. XI. 234 These mortuary badges are generally in the form of a heart. Ibid. 236 A mortuary ring..is described in the Gentleman's Magazine of July 1823. |
B. n. 1. A customary gift formerly claimed by the incumbent of a parish from the estate of a deceased parishioner.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 285 Or ellis þei schullen not be cristened, ne oyntid, ne biried wiþouten mortuarie. 1469 in Somerset Med. Wills (1901) 216, I will that the parson of Brympton have for me to his mortuarie a donne hors of mine. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 119 b, The parson and vicar wyll have for a mortuary..the best thynge that is about the house. 1647 Husbandman's Plea agst. Tithes 40 They must have a mortuary, of every dead mans goods, and that was to be the second best of the dead mans moveable goods or cattell. 1775 J. Watson Hist. Halifax 399 These two chapelries have also contended for the mortuaries within their respective divisions. 1852 Rock Ch. of Fathers III. viii. 25 Soul shot, under another though not so fit a name–mortuary–continued to be paid. 1897 Athenæum 7 Aug. 184 Mortuaries have been claimed by rectors and vicars within the memory of the present generation. |
| attrib. 17.. Pope Happy Life of Country Parson 6 Tithe-Pig, and mortuary Guinea. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. viii. 229 The clergy received..soul-scot or mortuary-dues. |
† b. A fine payable to certain ecclesiastical dignitaries on the death of a priest within their respective jurisdictions.
Obs.| 1590 Swinburne Testaments 232 It shall be lawfull to the Bishops of Bangors, Landaffe, Saint Dauids and Saint Asse, and likewise to the Archdeacon of Chester, to take such Mortuaries of the Priests..as heretofore hath beene accustomed. 1778 Pennant Tour Wales (1883) I. 110 Northop is a sinecure, annexed to the bishopric of St. Asaph,..to compensate for the mortuaries due to the bishop on the death of every beneficed clergyman in the diocese. |
† 2. A funeral; obsequies.
Obs.| c 1440 Jacob's Well 56 Þ ey schulde noȝt offeryn at weddynges, at puryficacyouns, at mortuaryes, but o messepeny. 1594 Selimus H 3, When thus they see me with religious pompe, To celebrate his tomb-blacke mortarie. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus' Ann. i. xiii. (1622) 25 A Generall honored with the Augurall dignitie..ought not to meddle in mortuaries. 1600 Holland Livy xxx. xliv. 772 Yee keepe a weeping and wailing, as in some publicke funerall and mortuarie carried forth. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage viii. xii. (1614) 804 At these mortuaries they did eate and drinke. |
† 3. A burial place, sepulchre.
Obs.| 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 36 Look on thy full Table as a Mortuary of the dispeopled Elements. 1658 Phillips, A Mortuarie, a Funeral, a burying place. |
† 4. An obituary record.
Obs. rare—1.
| 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 180 Bale fixes his Death at the Year 1359, but..Waræus places it to the Mortuary of 1360. |
5. A building or room in which dead bodies are kept for a time; a dead-house. Also, a place specially prepared for the temporary reception of a corpse.
| 1865 Morning Star 1 June, This mortuary is open every day. 1894 Times 19 Dec. 9/6 A mortuary will be erected in the cabin, which will be draped. |
| attrib. 1898 Westm. Gaz. 18 Mar. 5/1 Mortuary keeper. 1905 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 16 Sept. 688 Mortuary attendant. |