cymatium

[ si-mey-shee-uhm, sahy- ]

/ sɪˈmeɪ ʃi əm, saɪ- /

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noun, plural cy·ma·ti·a

[si-mey-shee-uh, sahy-]. /sɪˈmeɪ ʃi ə, saɪ-/. Architecture.

the uppermost member of a classical cornice or of a cornice of similar form: usually a cyma recta in classical examples.Compare sima²

echinus (def. 2c).

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Origin of cymatium

1555–65; <Latin <Greek kȳmátion, equivalent to kȳmat- (stem of kŷma wave; see cyma) + -ion diminutive suffix

Words nearby cymatium

cymaise, cymar, cyma recta, cyma reversa, cymation, cymatium, cymbal, cymbalo, cymbalom, Cymbeline, cymbidium

How to use cymatium in a sentence

The cymatium here is one sixth of the whole height of this part.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius
The style of carving of the cymatium with its astragal should be the Lesbian.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius
Let the rest, excluding the cymatium, be divided into twelve parts.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius
It forms the crowning feature of the Egyptian temples, and took the place of the cymatium in many of the Etruscan temples.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 5|Various

Let the height of a rail be one third of the breadth of a panel, and its cymatium one sixth of the rail.
Ten Books on Architecture|Vitruvius

British Dictionary definitions for cymatium

cymatium

/ (sɪˈmeɪtɪəm, -ʃɪəm) /

noun plural -tia (-tɪə, -ʃɪə)

architect the top moulding of a classical cornice or entablature

Word Origin for cymatium

C16: see cyma

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