cancellus

American  

[kan-sel-uhs] / kænˈsɛl əs /

noun

Architecture.

• cancelli
  plural

1. (in an early Christian basilica) one of a row of bars separating the clergy and sometimes the choir from the congregation.

2. (in an ancient Roman basilica) one of a row of bars separating the court personnel from the spectators.

3. cancelli, a screen of such bars.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cancelli
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cancellus

< Latin, equivalent to canc ( rī ) grating (plural of cancer, apparently dissimilated form of carcer prison) + -ellus diminutive suffix

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cancellus cancelli

Chancel is derived, through Fr. chancel or cancel, from Lat. cancellus, a cross-bar, occurring more usually in the plural in the sense of lattice, grating.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley

"What an unrefreshed face!" the Greek said softly, as the light from the cancelli showed the weariness and distress that had begun to make inroads on the animation of the girl's beauty.

From The City of Delight A Love Drama of the Siege and Fall of Jerusalem by Frank X. Leyendecker

The sand had filled up all the cavities and cancelli, but was in no instance consolidated or aggregated together; it was, therefore, easily removed by a soft brush, and the bones perfectly cleared without injury.

From COSMOS: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe, Vol. 1 by Alexander von Humboldt

The Roman woman, who had been lounging in a chair at the cancelli, turned languidly, and sprang up in feigned surprise.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Elizabeth Miller

Then the night-wind, rising from the sea, swept in through the cancelli with a shriek, put out the lamp instantly and swept the long dragging curtain against the Herod standing in the dimly-illuminated corridor.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Elizabeth Miller

It is hard to say whether by the Latin word cancelli is meant the chancel-screen or the altar-rails, in some cases probably the latter.

From The Church Handy Dictionary by Anonymous

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