narthex
Americannoun
noun
-
a portico at the west end of a basilica or church, esp one that is at right angles to the nave
-
a rectangular entrance hall between the porch and nave of a church
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of narthex
1665–75; < Late Greek nárthēx, Greek: giant fennel
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.
Instead, on Sundays, he worshipped in the narthex at the back of Camden First United Methodist Church, separated from the rest of the congregation, with his family at his side in folding chairs.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2022
Last summer, the church dedicated a special altar in the narthex for people to pray.
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2019
Engineers discovered cracks in a 14-square-foot section of tiling in the doorway between the entrance and the narthex.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 13, 2016
The Rev. John McDaniel will dedicate the narthex and welcome center.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 5, 2016
The narthex in its turn was set within an atrium or outer colonnaded court, in the centre of which was a fountain, used by worshippers for ablutions before entering the consecrated building.
From Architecture by Nancy R E Meugens Bell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
