propylaeum

American  

[prop-uh-lee-uhm] / ˌprɒp əˈli əm /

noun

propylaea plural

1. Often propylaea. a vestibule or entrance to a temple area or other enclosure, especially when elaborate or of architectural importance.

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propylaeum British  

/ ˌprɒpɪˈliːəm, ˈprɒpɪˌlɒn /

noun

1. a portico, esp one that forms the entrance to a temple

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• propylaea
  plural

Etymology

Origin of propylaeum

1700–10; < Latin < Greek propýlaion gateway, noun use of neuter of propýlaios before the gate, equivalent to pro- pro- ² + pýl ( ē ) gate + -aios adj. suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

propylaeum propylaea

Ducange explains it as “aedis sacrae propylaeum in porticus formam exstructum,” and says it was also used improperly for the sanctuary.

From Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Bede, Cuthbert

At the southern corner of the precinct is a kind of gate or propylaeum, flanked with two towers, between which are placed two coarse limestone drums.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

At Frankfort the dead-house occupies one of the wings of the propylaeum, which forms the main entrance to the cemetery.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

Probably fearing the intense competition, these musicians intended to garner at the propylaea the first fruits of the liberality which had here not yet spent itself.

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 06 Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. in Twenty Volumes by Francke, Kuno

From the former, it borrowed the raised platform on which their palaces were built, the broad flights of steps leading up to them and the winged human-headed bulls which flank the portals of the propylaea.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

By the side of the Lechaeum road, near the steps leading to the propylaea, were found in deep diggings thirteen early Geometric vases.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various

Such was a very ancient fountain W. of the propylaea, 25 ft. below the surface.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 4 "Coquelin" to "Costume" by Various

The emperor therefore commanded him to go to the so-called Bronze Gate and the propylaea there.

From History of the Wars, Books I and II The Persian War by Dewing, H. B.