Adjacent Words

Chancel definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CHANCEL, n. That part of the choir of a church, between the altar or communion table and the balustrade or railing that incloses it, or that part where the altar is placed; formerly inclosed with lattices or cross bars, as now with rails.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

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

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cancellus lattice, from Latin cancelli; from the latticework enclosing it — more at cancel Date: 14th century the part of a church containing the altar and seats for the clergy and choir

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. the part of a church near the altar, reserved for the clergy, the choir, etc., usu. enclosed by a screen or separated from the nave by steps. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L cancelli lattice

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(chancels) The chancel is the part of a church containing the altar, where the clergy and the choir usually sit. N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

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