retable

American  

[ri-tey-buhl, ree-tey-] / rɪˈteɪ bəl, ˈriˌteɪ- /

noun

1. a decorative structure raised above an altar at the back, often forming a frame for a picture, bas-relief, or the like, and sometimes including a shelf or shelves, as for ornaments.

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retable British  

/ rɪˈteɪbəl /

noun

1. an ornamental screenlike structure above and behind an altar, esp one used as a setting for a religious picture or carving

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Etymology

Origin of retable

1815–25; < French, equivalent to Old French re ( re ) at the back (< Latin retrō ) + table table; compare Medieval Latin retrōtabulum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

retable

At the head of the left aisle is a chapel which also has an elaborate marble retable of the same period.

From The Cathedrals and Churches of the Rhine by Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)

A flight of veined marble steps leads to the beautiful retable of the high altar.

From Castilian Days by Hay, John

She sits on a very beautiful throne, and has a large, rich, and well-gilded retable, given by Antonio Xuarez de Puga, who was many years her steward.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 30 of 55 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century, Volume XXX, 1640 by Abreu, Antonio Alvarez de

Altar Lights.—Two candles in candlesticks placed on the retable of the Altar and lighted at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; frequently called Eucharistic Lights.

From The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia by Miller, William James

Fortunately, a superb retable in five panels, representing scenes in the Passion of our Lord was discovered by Professor Willis in 1847, and is now preserved in the aisle outside the Jesus Chapel.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Norwich A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Episcopal See by Quennell, C. H. B. (Charles Henry Bourne)

Related Words

• shrine