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macabre
[ muh-kah-bruh, -kahb, -kah-ber ]
/ məˈkɑ brə, -ˈkɑb, -ˈkɑ bər /
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adjective
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Which sentence is correct?
Rarely ma·ca·ber .
Origin of macabre
First recorded in 1400–50; from French; compare late Middle English Macabrees daunce, from Middle French danse (de) Macabré, of uncertain origin; perhaps to be identified with Medieval Latin chorēa Machabaeōrum a representation of the deaths of Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers, but evidence is lacking; the French pronunciation with mute e is a misreading of the Middle French forms
Words nearby macabre
mabe pearl, Mabinogion, Mableton, Mabuse, mac, macabre, macaco, macadam, macadamia, macadamize, Macanese
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use macabre in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for macabre
macabre
/ (məˈkɑːbə, -brə) /
adjective
gruesome; ghastly; grim
resembling or associated with the danse macabre
Derived forms of macabre
macabrely, adverbWord Origin for macabre
C15: from Old French danse macabre dance of death, probably from macabé relating to the Maccabees, who were associated with death because of the doctrines and prayers for the dead in II Macc. (12:43–46)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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