antefix

[ an-tuh-fiks ]

noun,plural an·te·fix·es, an·te·fix·a [an-tuh-fik-suh]. /ˈæn təˌfɪk sə/. Architecture.
  1. an upright ornament at the eaves of a tiled roof, to conceal the foot of a row of convex tiles that cover the joints of the flat tiles.

  2. an ornament above the top molding of a cornice.

Origin of antefix

1
First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin antefīxa, neuter plural of antefīxus “fastened in front,” equivalent to ante- “before” + fīxus, past participle of fīgere “to fix”; see origin at ante-, fix

Other words from antefix

  • an·te·fix·al, adjective

Words Nearby antefix

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How to use antefix in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for antefix

antefix

/ (ˈæntɪˌfɪks) /


nounplural -fixes or -fixa (-ˌfɪksə)
  1. a carved ornament at the eaves of a roof to hide the joint between the tiles

Origin of antefix

1
C19: from Latin antefixa (things) fastened in front, from fīgere to fix

Derived forms of antefix

  • antefixal (ˌæntɪˈfɪksəl), adjective

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