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necropsy (n.)
"post-mortem examination," 1839, from necro- "death, corpse" + opsis "a sight" (from PIE root *okw- "to see"). As a verb, recorded from 1889. Alternative necroscopy is attested from 1820.
This term [necroscopy] was first proposed by M. Vaidy (late of Paris, now of Lille). A single term is desirable to express the inspection of the dead body; and the one in question will form an euphonic adjective and adverb — as necroscopic, necroscopical — which adds to the conveniences. — Its derivation is evident ( nekros, a corpse' and skopeo, to inspect.) [William Hutchinson, footnote in "Proëmium to the Fifty-Third Volume of The London Medical and Physical Journal," 1820]
also from 1839
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Trends of necropsy
updated on August 16, 2020
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Dictionary entries near necropsy
necromancy
necrophagous
necrophilia
necrophobia
necropolis
necropsy
necrosis
necrotomy
nectar
nectarine
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