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(ăps)

1. Architecture A usually semicircular or polygonal, often vaulted recess, especially the termination of the sanctuary end of a church.

2. Astronomy An apsis.

[Variant of APSIS.]

(click for a larger image)

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plan of the 4th-century ad

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

A. apse

B. transept

C. nave

D. aisles

E. narthex

F. atrium

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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