pulvinar

[ puhl-vahy-ner ]

noun,plural pul·vi·nar·i·a [puhl-vuh-nair-ee-uh]. /ˌpʌl vəˈnɛər i ə/.
  1. (in ancient Rome)

    • a cushioned couch kept in readiness for any visitation of a god.

    • a cushioned seat at a circus.

  2. Also called pulvinus. (on an Ionic capital) either of two convex forms having on their ends two of the volutes.

Origin of pulvinar

1
1590–1600; (noun) <Latin pulvīnar cushioned couch, equivalent to pulvīn(us) cushion + -ar, shortening of -āre, neuter of āris-ar1; (adj.) pulvin(us) + -ar1

Words Nearby pulvinar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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