shroud
UK: ʃraʊd | US: ʃraʊd
n. a cloth or garment in which a dead person is wrapped for burial
n. something that covers, conceals, or obscures
vt. to wrap or cover (a body) in a shroud for burial
vt. to envelop or obscure with a covering
The word "shroud" traces back to Old English scrūd, meaning "garment" or "covering," derived from Proto-Germanic skrūdaz. Over time, its meaning narrowed to specifically refer to burial cloths, likely due to cultural associations with wrapping the deceased. The verb form emerged later, extending the idea of "covering" to both literal and figurative concealment (e.g., fog shrouding a landscape). The silent "d" reflects historical spelling retention.
The ancient mummy was carefully preserved in a linen shroud.
A thick fog shrouded the valley, reducing visibility to near zero.
The investigation was shrouded in secrecy, with few details released to the public.
She drew the curtains to shroud the room in darkness.
Legends often shroud historical facts in layers of mystery.