acroterium

[ak-ruh-teer-ee-uhm]

noun

Architecture.

plural

acroteria 

1. a pedestal for a sculpture or ornament at each base or at the apex of a pediment.

Other Word Forms

• acroteral adjective
• acroterial adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of acroterium¹

Latinization of acroterion

Example Sentences

The house had grown a story higher; and the tiled roof, now surmounted by a bronze acroterium, projected an intact outline against the light blue of the sky, where a few stars were growing pale.

From Project Gutenberg

Pertaining to an acroterium; as, ornaments.

From Project Gutenberg

The pediment and acroterium were adorned with statues—scarcely, however, to be distinguished at that distance.

From Project Gutenberg

An ever present feature, also, is the palmette acroterium, treated in conventional ceramic style.

From Project Gutenberg

Fortunately a notable example has been preserved in the acroterium of the gable of the Heraion at Olympia, 51 a great disk of clay over seven feet in diameter.

From Project Gutenberg