Narthex Definition
närthĕks
noun
In early Christian churches, a porch or portico at the west end for penitents and others not admitted to the church itself.
Webster's New World
Any church vestibule leading to the nave.
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Narthex
Noun
Singular:
narthex
Plural:
narthexes, narthicesOrigin of Narthex
Late Greek narthēx from Greek giant fennel (plant of the genus Ferula, whose hollow stem could be used to store items), case for storing unguents (perhaps used in Late Greek to describe narthexes in churches because these are sometimes narrow passages or because catechumens were anointed there before baptism) perhaps akin to Sanskrit naḍaḥ reed
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek νάρθηξ (narthÄ“ks, “giant fennel"), later "˜casket' (modern Greek νάρθηκας (nárthikas)).
From Wiktionary
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