Definition

Noun: 1. A historical Hindu practice: The act or custom in which a widow voluntarily immolates herself on her husband's funeral pyre. 2. A widow who performs this act: The term can also refer to the widow herself who undergoes this rite.

Usage

• The word "suttee" is used primarily in historical, anthropological, and cultural discussions to describe this specific practice, which is now illegal in India.
• It functions as a non-count noun when referring to the custom and as a count noun when referring to a specific widow or instance.

Examples

• Referring to the custom:
  • The British colonial administration outlawed the practice of suttee in 1829.
  • Scholars debate the complex religious and social origins of suttee.
• Referring to the widow:
  • The tale tells of a suttee who was revered as a saint by her village.
  • Historical records from the 18th century mention several suttees in the region.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in academic writing to analyze gender, religion, and colonial history in South Asia.
• In modern discourse, it is a highly charged term, symbolizing for many the extreme oppression of women within certain historical social structures.

Variants and Related Words

• Sati (or Satī): This is the original Sanskrit term from which "suttee" is derived. "Sati" more accurately refers to the virtuous woman, and the practice itself is called "sahagamana" or "anumarana." In modern English usage, "sati" is often used interchangeably with "suttee," though "sati" can also refer to the goddess Sati.
• Self-immolation: A broader, non-culture-specific term for the act of killing oneself by fire.

Synonyms

• Self-immolation (of a widow): A more general descriptive phrase.
• Widow-burning: A direct, non-technical, and often critical term for the practice.

Notes on Meaning

• The definition centers on the nature of the act, though historical accounts frequently question the degree of social coercion and pressure involved.
• The practice is deeply rooted in specific interpretations of Hindu scripture and concepts of duty (), fidelity, and the wife's identity being merged with her husband's.
• It is crucial to distinguish the historical practice from the goddess Sati (the first wife of Shiva), whose name is the etymological root but represents a different mythological narrative.

Noun

1. the act of a Hindu widow willingly cremating herself on the funeral pyre of her dead husband