lich-gate
Definition
Noun: A roofed gateway at the entrance to a churchyard, traditionally used as a resting place for a coffin during a funeral procession before the burial.
Usage Examples
- (A roofed gateway where a coffin rests during a funeral.)
- (A covered entrance structure at a churchyard.)
Advanced Usage
- "to pass through the lich-gate": a formal or poetic phrase meaning to enter a churchyard for burial.
- The procession slowly passed through the lich-gate, marking the transition from the living world to the sacred ground. (The funeral party entered the churchyard through the roofed gate.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lych-gate (n): an alternative spelling of "lich-gate," with the same meaning.
- The lych-gate was recently restored by the local historical society. (The roofed churchyard entrance was renovated.)
- Lich (n, archaic): a dead body or corpse, especially in a churchyard context.
- The word "lich" appears in "lich-gate" as an old term for a corpse. (The root meaning refers to a body awaiting burial.)
Synonyms
- Churchyard gate: a simple entrance to a churchyard, though not necessarily roofed.
- Coffin gate: a functional synonym, highlighting the gate's purpose for funeral processions.
Related Idioms
- Not applicable: "Lich-gate" is a specific architectural and ceremonial term with no common idiomatic usage.