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antefix

[ an-tuh-fiks ]
/ ˈæn təˌfɪks /
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noun, plural an·te·fix·es, an·te·fix·a [an-tuh-fik-suh]. /ˈæn təˌfɪk sə/. Architecture.

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.
an ornament above the top molding of a cornice.

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Origin of antefix

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

antecubital, antedate, antediluvian, antediluvian patriarch, antefebrile, antefix, anteflexion, ant egg, antegrade, antegrade urography, antehall
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

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British Dictionary definitions for antefix

antefix
/ (ˈæntɪˌfɪks) /

noun plural -fixes or -fixa (-ˌfɪksə)

a carved ornament at the eaves of a roof to hide the joint between the tiles

Derived forms of antefix

antefixal (ˌæntɪˈfɪksəl), adjective

Word Origin for antefix

C19: from Latin antefixa (things) fastened in front, from fīgere to fix
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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