obsequy (OB-se-kwee) noun

   A funeral rite or ceremony.

[Middle English obsequie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin obsequiae,
alteration (influenced by Latin exsequiae, funeral rites) of Latin obsequia,
plural of obsequium, compliance.]

   "When (Anthony) Powell died, in March of last year, at the age of
   ninety-four, the New York Times Book Review devoted a Bookend column to
   the obsequy."
   Christopher Hitchens, An Omnivorous Curiosity, The Atlantic Monthly
   (Boston) Jun 2001.

This week's theme: red-herring words.

............................................................................
All zoos actually offer the public, in return for the taxes spent upon
them, is a form of idle witless amusement, compared to which a visit to the
state penitentiary, or even a state legislature in session, is informing,
stimulating and ennobling. -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic
(1880-1956)

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/obsequy.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/obsequy.ram