triclinium

American  

[trahy-klin-ee-uhm] / traɪˈklɪn i əm /

noun

Roman History.

triclinia plural

1. a couch extending along three sides of a table, for reclining on at meals.

2. a dining room, especially one containing such a couch.

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triclinium British  

/ traɪˈklɪnɪəm /

noun

1. an arrangement of three couches around a table for reclining upon while dining

2. a dining room, esp one containing such an arrangement of couches

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• triclinia
  plural

Etymology

Origin of triclinium

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin trīclīnium, from Greek triklī́nion, diminutive of tríklīnos “having three couches (adjective), dining room so furnished (noun),” equivalent to tri- tri- + klī́n(ē) “couch” ( see clinic) + -ion diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

triclinium triclinia

Here is that same triclinium where thy guests were wont to assemble when thou didst invite them to thy banquets.

From Pharos, The Egyptian A Romance by Boothby, Guy

His description of the triclinium of Scaurus will give the reader the best notion of the style in which such an apartment was furnished and ornamented.

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)

Between the fountain and triclinium, in a line between the two pilasters which supported the trellis, was a small altar, on which the due libations might be poured by the festive party.

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)

Other rooms round the court were the triclinium, or dining room, and cubicula or bedchambers.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 7 "Horticulture" to "Hudson Bay" by Various

We have elsewhere described the Roman dining hall, or triclinium.

From Roman Women by Brittain, Alfred

The Parasites, when there was not room for them on the "triclinia," or "couches" at table, were forced to sit on "subsellia," or "benches," at the bottom of the table.

From The Captiva and the Mostellaria by Riley, Henry T. (Henry Thomas)

With the museums of Naples before us, we can reconstruct all the triclinia of Pompeii at a glance.

From The Wonders of Pompeii by Monnier, Marc

Overshadowing the Herod till in very despair he hath taken to racing and left the triclinia and the atria to thee!

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth

And she had twelve triclinia laid; and invited Antony to a banquet, and desired him to bring with him whatever companions he pleased.

From The Deipnosophists, or Banquet of the Learned of Athen?us by Athen?us

It was adorned with pillars of Hymettian marble, with expensive vases, and triclinia inlaid with brass.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.