ciborium

[ si-bawr-ee-uhm, -bohr- ]

noun

, plural ci·bo·ri·a [si-, bawr, -ee-, uh, -, bohr, -].

1. a permanent canopy placed over an altar; baldachin.
2. any container designed to hold the consecrated bread or sacred wafers for the Eucharist.
3. Archaic. a severy.

ciborium

/ sɪˈbɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. a goblet-shaped lidded vessel used to hold consecrated wafers in Holy Communion
2. a freestanding canopy fixed over an altar and supported by four pillars

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciborium¹

1645–55; < Latin: drinking-cup < Greek kibṓrion literally, the seed vessel of the Egyptian lotus, which the cup apparently resembled

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciborium¹

C17: from Medieval Latin, from Latin: drinking cup, from Greek kibōrion cup-shaped seed vessel of the Egyptian lotus, hence, a cup

Example Sentences

Nor can we forget the foamy ciborium of the Church of St Lawrence.

From Project Gutenberg

The cover, fallen to one side, had a number of bullet marks, as the ciborium itself had.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon the altar are two candlesticks and a ciborium: rising out of the latter is the figure of our Blessed Lord.

From Project Gutenberg

At the centre of the chord stood the high altar beneath a ciborium, resting on four pillars of porphyry.

From Project Gutenberg

The altar stands beneath a lofty ciborium, supported by marble columns, with a canopy on smaller shafts above.

From Project Gutenberg