- caryatid
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A sculpted female figure serving as an architectural element, used as a support for entablature.
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caryatid
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Caryatid — Car y*at id, n.; pl. {Caryatids}. [See {Caryatides}.] (Arch.) A draped female figure supporting an entablature, in the place of a column or pilaster. [1913 Webster] || … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
caryatid — 1560s, carved female figure used as a column, from M.Fr. cariatide, from L. caryatides, from Gk. Karyatides (singular Karyatis) priestesses of Artemis at Caryae (Gk. Karyai), a town in Laconia where dance festivals were held in Artemis temple … Etymology dictionary
caryatid — [kar΄ē at′id, kə rī′ə tid΄] n. pl. caryatids [kar΄ē at′əidz] or caryatides [kar΄ēat′ə dēz΄] [< L pl. caryatides < Gr karyatides, priestesses of the temple of Diana at Karyai, Macedonia] a supporting column that has the form of a draped… … English World dictionary
Caryatid — A caryatid ( el. Καρυάτις, plural: Καρυάτιδες) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means maidens of… … Wikipedia
Caryatid — Caryatic Car y*at ic, Caryatid Car y*at id, a. Of or pertaining to a caryatid. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
caryatid — caryatidal, adj. /kar ee at id/, n., pl. caryatids, caryatides / i deez /. Archit. a sculptured female figure used as a column. Cf. atlas (def. 5). [1555 65; < L Caryatides (sing. Caryatis) < Gk Karyátides columns shaped like women, lit., women… … Universalium
caryatid — A carved female figure used as a column. Dressed in long robes, she supports an architectural element on her head. Her male counterpart is an atlant, atlantid, or atlas. The word caryatid is Greek, and originally referred to maidens of Caryae… … Glossary of Art Terms
caryatid — noun (plural ids or caryatides) Etymology: Latin caryatides, plural, from Greek karyatides priestesses of Artemis at Caryae, caryatids, from Karyai Caryae in Laconia Date: 1563 a draped female figure supporting an entablature … New Collegiate Dictionary
caryatid — car|y|at|id [ˌkæriˈætıd] n [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: caryatides (plural), from Greek, female priests of the goddess Artemis at Caryae, a town in ancient Greece ] technical a ↑pillar in the shape of a female figure … Dictionary of contemporary English
caryatid — In architecture, a female form used as a supporting pillar … Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors
