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nave¹

(nāv)

The central part of a church, typically extending from the narthex to the chancel and flanked by aisles.

[Medieval Latin nāvis, from Latin, ship (from its shape); see nāu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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nave¹

plan of the 4th-century AD

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

Italy

A. apse

B. transept

C. nave

D. aisles

E. narthex

F. atrium

nave²

(nāv)

The hub of a wheel.

[Middle English, from Old English nafu; see nobh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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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