suttee

sut·tee also sa·ti  (s-t, st)

n.

1. The now illegal act or practice of a Hindu widow's cremating herself on her husband's funeral pyre in order to fulfill her true role as wife.

2. pl. sut·tees also sa·tis A widow who commits such an act.

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[Sanskrit sat, virtuous woman, suttee, from feminine present participle of asti, s-, she is, is true; see es- in Indo-European roots.]

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suttee

1. the suicide of a Hindu widow by immolation on the funeral pyre of her husband.
2. a Hindu widow who died by suttee.

See also: Killing

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

suttee - the act of a Hindu widow willingly cremating herself on the funeral pyre of her dead husband self-annihilation, self-destruction, suicide - the act of killing yourself; "it is a crime to commit suicide"