bury
UK[ˈberi]US[ˈberi]
v
To put a dead body into the ground.
v
To hide something in the ground or under another object.
v
To cover or hide something from view.
Etymology
The verb 'bury' originates from the Old English byrgan, which meant "to raise a mound, to hide, or to bury." This Old English term is related to the noun burg or burh, meaning "fortified place" or "mound," suggesting a conceptual link between burial and the act of covering with earth or placing within a protective mound. The word is of Germanic origin, tracing back to the Proto-Germanic burgijaną ("to keep safe") and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root bhergh-, meaning "high" or "fortified hill." The semantic journey thus evolved from the idea of constructing a protective, elevated mound to the specific modern act of interring a body beneath the earth, emphasizing concealment and safekeeping.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form derived from Old English byrgan, meaning "to raise a mound, hide, bury." It is not productively segmentable into distinct, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
They plan to bury their beloved pet in the garden.
The pirates decided to bury their treasure on a deserted island.
She tried to bury her feelings of sadness and put on a brave face.