 | WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Coroner
Pronunciation : Cor"o*ner (kr"-nr)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [From OE. coronen to crown, OF. coroner, fr. L. coronare, fr. corona crown. Formed as a translation of LL. coronator coroner, fr. L. corona crown, the coroner having been originally a prosecuting officer of the crown. See Crown.]
Definition : Defn: An officer of the peace whose principal duty is to inquire, with the help of a jury, into the cause of any violent, sudden or mysterious death, or death in prison, usually on sight of the body and at the place where the death occurred. [In England formerly also written and pronounced crowner.]
Note: In some of the United States the office of coroner is abolished, that of medical examiner taking its place. Coroner's inquest. See under Inquest.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
Merriam-Webster's Everyday Language Reference Set: Includes: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, The Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, and The Merriam-Webster Vocabulary Builder                               |