Word of the Day 7.3.9

reredos

rere·dos (rîrds, rîr-, rr-)

n.

1. A decorative screen or facing on the wall at the back of an altar; a retable.

2. The back of an open hearth of a fireplace.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from areredos : arere, behind (Latin ad-, ad- + Latin retr, backward; see re- in Indo-European roots) + dos, back (from Latin dorsum).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

reredos – a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table

screen – partition consisting of a decorative frame or panel that serves to divide a space

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Posted on July 3, 2009 by admin

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