Definition

A room or chamber that is located underground, often used in ancient times for burial or as part of a building.

Example

The archaeologists discovered an ancient hypogeum filled with artifacts.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the hypogeum in Malta?

Yeah, I read about it; it's supposed to be really fascinating.

I want to visit it someday and explore that ancient hypogeum.

That sounds like an amazing adventure — I hope you get to go!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hypogeum → It is formed from "hypo-" (from Greek "hypo", meaning under or below) and "geō" (from Greek "gē", meaning earth). The word refers to an underground structure or burial site, literally meaning 'under the earth'.

Memory Tip

Think of 'under' ('hypo-') and 'earth' ('geō') to remember that a hypogeum is something located beneath the earth.

Visually Confused Words