Definition

A vehicle used to transport a coffin to a funeral or burial site.

Example

The hearse slowly drove through the streets, carrying the coffin to the cemetery.

Conversation

Did you see that old hearse parked outside the funeral home?

Yeah, it really stood out, didn’t it?

I wonder how many stories that hearse could tell.

Probably a lot, given how long they've been around.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To transport a body in a vehicle designed for funerals.

Example

The family decided to hearse their loved one to the cemetery.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you hear about the funeral this weekend?

Yeah, I heard they will hearse the loved one in a vintage car.

That's interesting — I wonder how they chose that hearse.

Root Explanation

Hearse → The word 'hearse' originates from Old French 'herse' (meaning a harrow, a frame with spikes used in agriculture) and is derived from Latin 'hirpex' (meaning a harrow). The term evolved to refer to a framework that supports a coffin, thus connecting to its modern meaning as a vehicle for carrying the dead.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'harrow' ('herse') that once helped prepare the ground, now transformed into a vehicle that carries the departed. This helps you remember that a hearse is used to transport the deceased.

Visually Confused Words