humus (n.)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "earth."

It forms all or part of: antichthon; autochthon; autochthonic; bonhomie; bridegroom; camomile; chameleon; chernozem; chthonic; exhume; homage; hombre; homicide; hominid; Homo sapiens; homunculus; human; humane; humble; humiliate; humility; humus; inhumation; inhume; nemo; ombre; omerta.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit ksam- "earth" (opposed to "sky"); Greek khthōn "the earth, solid surface of the earth," khamai "on the ground;" Latin humus "earth, soil," humilis "low;" Lithuanian žemė, Old Church Slavonic zemlja "earth;" Old Irish du, genitive don "place," earlier "earth."

"act of burying in the ground" (as opposed to cremation), 1630s, noun of action from inhume "to bury," literally "to put into the ground," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + humus "earth, soil" (see humus).

"bury, lay in the grave," c. 1600, from Latin inhumare "to bury," literally "to put into the ground," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + humus "earth, soil" (see humus). Related: Inhumed; inhuming.