suttee

views updated

sut·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.

suttee

views updated

suttee 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’.

suttee

views updated

suttee 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).

Suttee

views updated

Suttee (devotion through self-immolation of a widow): see SATĪ.

suttee

views updated

suttee 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.

More From encyclopedia.com