Hypertext Webster Gateway: "apse"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Apse \Apse\, n.; pl. Apses. [See {Apsis}.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) A projecting part of a building, esp. of a church,
having in the plan a polygonal or semicircular
termination, and, most often, projecting from the east
end. In early churches the Eastern apse was occupied
by seats for the bishop and clergy. Hence:
(b) The bishop's seat or throne, in ancient churches.
2. A reliquary, or case in which the relics of saints were
kept.
Note: This word is also written apsis and absis.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
apse
n : a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building
especially the east end of a church; usually contains the
the altar [syn: {apsis}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.