Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A decorative screen or facing on the wall at the back of an altar; a retable.
- n. The back of an open hearth of a fireplace.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In architecture, the back of a fireplace, or of an open fire-hearth, as commonly used in domestic halls of medieval times and the Renaissance; the iron plate often forming the back of a fireplace in which andirons are used.
- n. A screen or a decorated part of the wall behind an altar in a church, especially when the altar does not stand free, but against the wall; an altarpiece. Compare altarpiece and retable.
- n. In medieval armor, same as backpiece.
Wiktionary
- n. a screen or decoration behind the altar in a church, usually depicting religious iconography or images.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A screen or partition wall behind an altar.
- n. The back of a fireplace.
- n. The open hearth, upon which fires were lighted, immediately under the louver, in the center of ancient halls.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table
Etymologies
- Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from areredos : arere, behind (Latin ad-, ad- + Latin retrō, backward; see re- in Indo-European roots) + dos, back (from Latin dorsum).
Examples
“The covering for the reredos is the same as in the old photo.”
“Behind the reredos are the chantries of Bishop Waynflete and of the great Cardinal”
Wanderings in Wessex An Exploration of the Southern Realm from Itchen to Otter
“Beyond the space at the back of the reredos is the Early English Lady Chapel with an interesting series of wall paintings depicting the story of our Lady.”
Wanderings in Wessex An Exploration of the Southern Realm from Itchen to Otter
“The reredos is a magnificent erection, and renders the east end of this cathedral one of the most dignified in the kingdom.”
“The reredos is the first example in modern cathedral work of the elaborate style of decoration for the most holy part of the sanctuary, which is now not uncommon.”
“The old screen has gone, and the reredos is a restoration; the original stalls were removed as early as”
“All of it is mentioned elsewhere in this book, and it is sufficient here to say that the erection of Sir G. Scott's choir-screen and the restoration of the reredos are the most noticeable "modern" features, though the latter was carried out on the old lines as nearly as was thought advisable.”
“At the back of the reredos is a brass to Mr. Bailey, M.P. for the county, whose bust formerly stood here, but was removed to a more fitting position in the county hall.”
“The reredos is a representation of the four evangelists in mosaic work in four panels, enclosed in a Gothic canopy of marble.”
“When this structure is ornamented with panels and enriched with niches statues, buttresses, and other decorations, which are often painted with brilliant colours, it is called a "reredos".”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘reredos’.
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