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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

triclinium triclinia

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

"But is the sitting at an end?" asked the Prefect, resting his left arm on the cushions of the triclinium.

From A Struggle for Rome, v. 1 by Felix Dahn

Footsteps, giggling, and whispering were heard in the peristyle, and the Gaditanian dancers entered the triclinium, crowding each other like a stampeding flock.

From Sónnica by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

That close to the gate, called the House of the Triclinium, derives its name from a large triclinium in the centre of the peristyle, which is spacious and handsome, and bounded by the city walls.

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

Above it was a trellis, as is shown by the square pillars in front and the holes in the walls which enclose two sides of the triclinium.

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

Even in private houses, these triclinia were magnificently adorned.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847 by Various

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 Henry T. (Henry Thomas) Riley

As triclinia were placed in eating-rooms, such a room is sometimes called triclinium.

From Plutarch's Lives Volume III. by Aubrey Stewart

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

From Walks in Rome by Augustus J. C. Hare

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

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