Narthex

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A part of an early Christian or an Oriental church or basilica, at the end furthest from the bema or sanctuary, and nearest to the main entrance. It was originally separated from the nave merely by a railing or screen; but after the earliest Christian centuries it was generally divided from the church proper by a complete wall, in which were the main entrance-doors to the church, the narthex thus forming a capacious, and lofty vestibule of the full width of the church. In primitive times the narthex was the part of the church to which the catechumens, the energumens, and the class of penitents called audientes or hearers were admitted. Sometimes it was set apart for the women of the congregation. Occasionally it was double, in which case the inner division was called the esonarthex and the outer division the exonarthex. In the church-building of western Europe, in certain types of monastic churches, notably in those of the Benedictines and Cistercians, the narthex persisted until the end of the twelfth century, and often formed a very important architectural feature, as in the splendid example in the great abbey-church of Vézelay, France. Also called antechurch, antenave, pronaos. See diagram under bema.
2. n. In antiquity, a small box or casket for unguents or perfumes.
3. n. An old genus of umbelliferous plants, now referred to Ferula. See asafetida.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Bot.) A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See Giant fennel, under fennel.
2. n. (Arch.) The portico in front of ancient churches; sometimes, the atrium or outer court surrounded by ambulatories; -- used, generally, for any vestibule, lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a church.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. portico at the west end of an early Christian basilica or church
2. n. a vestibule leading to the nave of a church