Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Architecture An apse.
- noun Astronomy The point of greatest or least distance of the orbit of a celestial body from the center of mass of the system.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In astronomy, a point in the eccentric orbit of a planet in which it is either furthest from or nearest to the body about which it revolves.
- noun In architecture, same as
apse . - noun A reliquary or case in which the relies of saints are kept, especially one of a form imitating the curves of a dome or vault.
- noun Sometimes written absis.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Astron.) One of the two points of an orbit, as of a planet or satellite, which are at the greatest and least distance from the central body, corresponding to the aphelion and perihelion of a planet, or to the apogee and perigee of the moon. The more distant is called the
higher apsis ; the other, thelower apsis ; and the line joining them, theline of apsides . - noun (Math.) In a curve referred to polar coördinates, any point for which the radius vector is a maximum or minimum.
- noun (Arch.) Same as
Apse .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun architecture A
recess orprojection , with adome orvault , at theeast end of achurch ; anapse . - noun astronomy Either of the
points in theelliptical orbit of aplanet orcomet where it isclosest orfurthest from thesun ;perihelion oraphelion ; anapside
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In the apsis was a mosaic which represented the Blessed Trinity, and of which in 1512 some remnants were still found.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 11: New Mexico-Philip 1840-1916 1913
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The presbytery was also known as apsis, exedra, concha, designations referring to its form; bema from the fact that it was elevated above the level of the nave and in consequence reached by a stairway of a few steps; tribuna because of its location and general resemblance to the tribunal in civil basilicas whence the magistrates administered justice.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 12: Philip II-Reuss 1840-1916 1913
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This original church was modelled after the ancient Basilica, or hall of justice or of commerce: at one end was an elevated tribunal, and back of this what was called the "apsis," -- a rounded space with arched roof.
Beacon Lights of History John Lord 1852
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The east choir with the 1830s high altar; the rather interesting apsis painting was added in 1928:
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Preliminary, it seems that we are dealing with a Roman settlement, followed by a (early) Byzantine use of the site, during which period at least one church was erected (cf. inscription by a deacon called Zosimos, who dedicated a door to a church, the apsis of which was found in situ nearby).
Territorial Archaeological Survey « Interactive Dig Sagalassos – City in the Clouds 2009
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Preliminary, it seems that we are dealing with a Roman settlement, followed by a (early) Byzantine use of the site, during which period at least one church was erected (cf. inscription by a deacon called Zosimos, who dedicated a door to a church, the apsis of which was found in situ nearby).
Territorial Archaeological Survey « Interactive Dig Sagalassos – City in the Clouds 2009
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When this apsis, therefore, of Mars shall appear in Virgo, who shall expect less than a strange catastrophe of human affairs in the commonwealth, monarchy, and kingdom of England?
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Urban VIII; On an ancient and interesting Christian sarcophagus taken from the Vatican cemetery is represented a basilica with its apsis, and near it a circular building evidently meant for the baptistery: this is covered with a cupola surmounted by the monogram of
The Ceremonies of the Holy-Week at Rome Charles Michael Baggs
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The mosaics in the apsis are much restored, but they are the only known work of Cimabue, [56] and are consequently, even in their present condition, valuable and interesting.
Florence and Northern Tuscany with Genoa With Sixteen Illustrations In Colour By William Parkinson And Sixteen Other Illustrations, Second Edition Edward Hutton 1922
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It is variously designated apsis or concha (from the shell-like, hemispherical dome), and since the Middle Ages especially it has been called "choir", from the choir of singers who are here stationed.
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock 1840-1916 1913
chained_bear commented on the word apsis
"... in astronomy, is applied to either of the two points in the orbits of planets, where they are at their greatest and least distance from the sun or earth. The higher apsis is that which is nearest the sun or earth, and is synonimous (sic) with perihelion and perigee; the lower apsis is that which is farthest from the sun or earth; and corresponds to aphelion, or apogee. The line which joins these two points is called the line of the apses, or apsides."
—Falconer's New Universal Dictionary of the Marine (1816), 19–20
October 14, 2008