cymatium

[si-mey-shee-uh m, sahy-]

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).

Origin of cymatium

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cymatium

Historical Examples of cymatium

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
Its cymatium is one seventh of the whole height of the frieze, and the projection of the cymatium is the same as its height.
Ten Books on Architecture
Vitruvius
The cymatium of the architrave should be one seventh of the height of the whole architrave, and its projection the same.
Ten Books on Architecture
Vitruvius

British Dictionary definitions for cymatium

cymatium

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