Suttee

Pronunciation: /sʌˈtiː/

Definitions of suttee

noun The act or practice of a Hindu widow voluntarily being cremated on the funeral pyre of her husband.

Example Sentences

A1 Suttee was a practice in ancient India where a widow would immolate herself on her husband's funeral pyre.

A2 The tradition of suttee was outlawed in India in the 19th century.

B1 Suttee was considered a way for a widow to demonstrate her devotion to her deceased husband.

B2 There is debate among historians about the extent to which suttee was voluntary or coerced.

C1 Suttee was a controversial practice that raised ethical questions about women's rights and autonomy.

C2 The practice of suttee has largely disappeared in modern times, but its historical significance is still studied by scholars.

Examples of suttee in a Sentence

formal Suttee was a historical Hindu funeral practice where a widow immolated herself on her husband's funeral pyre.

informal Suttee was a traditional practice in some Hindu communities where a widow would join her husband in death by self-immolation.

slang Back in the day, some cultures practiced suttee, where a widow would burn herself alive after her husband's death.

figurative The old tradition of suttee symbolized the ultimate sacrifice of love and devotion in Hindu culture.

Grammatical Forms of suttee

• past tense: suteed
• plural: suttees
• comparative: more suttee
• superlative: most suttee
• present tense: suttees
• future tense: will suttee
• perfect tense: have suteed
• continuous tense: is suteeing
• singular: suttee
• positive degree: suttee
• infinitive: to suttee
• gerund: sutteeing
• participle: suteed

Origin and Evolution of suttee

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Sanskrit

Story behind the word: The word 'suttee' originated from the Sanskrit word 'sati', which means 'virtuous woman' or 'chaste woman'.

Evolution of the word: Originally referring to the practice of a Hindu widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre, the term 'suttee' has evolved to also encompass the act of widow burning itself. Over time, the practice has been widely condemned and outlawed in many countries.