Gravestone

/ˈɡreɪvˌstoʊn/ noun

Definition

A stone marker placed at a grave to identify the deceased and commemorate their life, typically inscribed with names and dates.

Etymology

From 'grave' (Old English 'græf' meaning dug earth) + 'stone' (Old English 'stān'), creating a compound word that literally means 'stone at a burial place'.

Kelly Says

Gravestones represent humanity's unique relationship with mortality - we're apparently the only species that marks death with permanent monuments, transforming the universal experience of loss into individualized memories carved in stone that can outlast civilizations.

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