suttee
oxford
views updated May 23 2018sut·tee / səˈtē; ˈsəˌtē/ (also sa·ti pronunc. same) •
n. (pl. sut·tees; also sa·tis / səˈtēz; ˈsəˌtēz/ ) the former Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. ∎ a widow who committed such an act.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
suttee
oxford
views updated May 21 2018suttee the former Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre; a widow who committed such an act. The word, which is
Hindi, comes from
Sanskrit satī ‘faithful wife’, from
sat ‘good’.
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES
suttee
oxford
views updated May 23 2018suttee Hindu widow who immolated herself with her husband's body XVIII; such immolation XIX. — Hind. :- Skr.
satī faithful wife, f.
sat good, wise, lit. being, prp. of
ásti is (see
BE).
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
Suttee
oxford
views updated May 09 2018Suttee (devotion through self-immolation of a widow): see
SATĪ.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions JOHN BOWKER
suttee
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018suttee Former Indian custom of a widow throwing herself alive on to her husband's funeral pyre. Originally confined to royalty, it was forbidden (1829) under British rule.
World Encyclopedia
