cymatium

American  

[si-mey-shee-uhm, sahy-] / sɪˈmeɪ ʃi əm, saɪ- /

noun

Architecture.

plural

cymatia

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

2. echinus.

---

cymatium British  

/ sɪˈmeɪtɪəm, -ʃɪəm /

noun

1. architect the top moulding of a classical cornice or entablature

---

Etymology

Origin of cymatium

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

Example Sentences

Its cymatium is one seventh of the whole height of the frieze, and the projection of the cymatium is the same as its height.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Contrasting pleasingly with this fret and on opposite sides of it are a plain molded ovolo outlining the panel and a small floreated torus supplemented by a molded cymatium within.

From The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia by Cousins, Frank

The cymatium here is one sixth of the whole height of this part.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Besides, there are fasciae running all round under the cymatia on the jambs, and apportioned so as to be equal to three sevenths of a jamb, excluding the cymatium.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Let the height of the capital be divided into three parts, of which one will form the abacus with its cymatium, the second the echinus with its annulets, and the third the necking.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio