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Showing results for chancel. Search instead for chancels.
Synonyms

chancel

American  
[chan-suhl, chahn-] / ˈtʃæn səl, ˈtʃɑn- /

noun

  1. the space about the altar of a church, usually enclosed, for the clergy and other officials.


chancel British  
/ ˈtʃɑːnsəl /

noun

  1. the part of a church containing the altar, sanctuary, and choir, usually separated from the nave and transepts by a screen

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of chancel

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French < Late Latin cancellus lattice, railing or screen before the altar of a church, Latin cancell ( ī ) (plural) lattice, railing, grating; see cancel

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He said the candle-and-flower clad chancel and stained glass windows installed when his grandfather was a congregant were a touchstone for generations.

From Washington Times • Dec. 1, 2018

The coffins have been left undisturbed, though builders have installed a glass panel in the chancel floor above them for visitors to catch a glimpse.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2017

Henry III added a rectangular chancel in 1240.

From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2016

Before I visited Jamestown, all I knew about a chancel was that it is a legal Scrabble word.

From Slate • Aug. 4, 2015

Or was the vault under the chancel of Gateshead Church an inviting bourne?

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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