What does the term "vivisepulture" refer to?

The term "vivisepulture" specifically refers to the act of burying someone or something alive. This historical practice often invokes strong reactions due to the ethical implications and horror associated with such an act. It stems from the Latin roots "vivus" meaning "alive" and "sepulture" meaning "burial." The concept is tied to various cultural, mythological, or even penal practices where individuals were believed to have been buried before they were truly deceased, often due to misunderstandings of death.

The other terms relate to different concepts: the burial of ashes pertains to cremated remains, cremation is the process of reducing a body to ashes using fire, and interment of pets refers to the burial of animal companions. Each of these terms encompasses a distinct practice that does not involve the act of being buried while still alive, differentiating them from the definition of vivisepulture.