MORTUARY

mortuary. Mortuary, n. a gift left at death to a church, &c.

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Mor″tu‐a‐ry (?), n.; pl. Mortuaries (#). [[LL. mortuarium. See Mortuary, a.]] 1. 1. A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. It seems to have been originally a voluntary bequest or donation, intended to make amends for any failure in the payment of tithes of which the deceased had been guilty.
2. 2. A burial place; a place for the dead.
3. 3. A place for the reception of the dead before burial; a deadhouse; a morgue.