Definition of the word grave

The word "grave" has its roots in Old English and Germanic languages. The modern English word "grave" comes from the Old English word "grāf," which means "tomb" or "burial place." This is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*greviz," which is also the source of the Modern German word "Grab," meaning "tomb" or "grave." The Proto-Germanic word is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ghrebh-," which meant "to dig." This root is also the source of other words for "grave" and "tomb" in various Indo-European languages, such as Sanskrit "śraṣṭi" and Greek "τάφος" (taphos). Over time, the spelling and meaning of the word "grave" have evolved to refer to a place where the dead are buried, as well as the act of burying someone.