Chancel

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Chancel \Chan"cel\, n. [OF. chancel, F. chanceau, cancel, fr. L.
     cancelli lattices, crossbars. (The chancel was formerly
     inclosed with lattices or crossbars) See {Cancel}, v. t.]
     (Arch.)
     (a) That part of a church, reserved for the use of the
         clergy, where the altar, or communion table, is placed.


         Hence, in modern use;
     (b) All that part of a cruciform church which is beyond the
         line of the transept farthest from the main front.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     {Chancel aisle} (Arch.), the aisle which passes on either
        side of or around the chancel.
  
     {Chancel arch} (Arch.), the arch which spans the main
        opening, leading to the chancel.
  
     {Chancel casement}, the principal window in a chancel.
        --Tennyson.
  
     {Chancel table}, the communion table.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  chancel
       n : area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir;
           often enclosed by a lattice or railing [syn: {sanctuary},
            {bema}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  23 Moby Thesaurus words for "chancel":
     Easter sepulcher, ambry, apse, baptistery, blindstory, choir,
     cloisters, confessional, confessionary, crypt, diaconicon,
     diaconicum, nave, porch, presbytery, rood loft, rood stair,
     rood tower, sacrarium, sacristy, transept, triforium, vestry