lectern

American  

[lek-tern] / ˈlɛk tərn /

noun

1. a reading desk in a church on which the Bible rests and from which the lessons are read during the church service.

2. a stand with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, manuscript, etc., at the proper height for a reader or speaker.

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lectern British  

/ ˈlɛktən /

noun

1. a reading desk or support in a church

2. any similar desk or support

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Etymology

Origin of lectern

1275–1325; earlier lectron ( e ), late Middle English lectryn < Medieval Latin lēctrīnum, derivative of lēctrum lectern, equivalent to Latin leg ( ere ) to read + -trum instrumental suffix; replacing Middle English letroun, lettorne < Middle French letrun < Medieval Latin lēctrum, as above

Explanation

When the President of The United States gives a speech, he often stands at a wooden lectern featuring the presidential seal. A lectern is a stand on which you can place notes or papers while you lecture. Lecterns often feature a sloped top and a little lamp to make reading from a paper or notes easier. The word lectern comes from the Latin word legere which means "to read." Lecterns serve another purpose for nervous readers — they offer a good hiding place for shaking hands.

Example Sentences

Then there is the faux Lincoln Lectern, a near-exact replica of the one from which President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.

From New York Times • Sep. 21, 2015

Containing 768 items, the collection ranges from the classic Oxford Lectern Bible and some 400 other books to waggish menus, from paintings to a "No Trespassing" sign.

From Time Magazine Archive

Notable are three inserts of pages from Rogers' magnificent Oxford Lectern Bible, finished in 1935.

From Time Magazine Archive

Of modern fittings, the Brass Lectern was given by members of the late Dean Lear's family.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Salisbury A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the See of Sarum by White, Gleeson

The Lectern is of carved wood, of the well-known form in which the book is borne by an eagle’s out-spread wings.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Rochester A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See by Palmer, G. H. (George Henry)

Related Words

• rostrum