chancel

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: chan=cel

CIDE DICTIONARY

chancel, n. [OF. chancel, F. chanceau, cancel, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars. (The chancel was formerly inclosed with lattices or crossbars) See Cancel, v. t.].

 That part of a church, reserved for the use of the clergy, where the altar, or communion table, is placed.  [1913 Webster]

Chancel aisle (Arch.), the aisle which passes on either side of or around the chancel. -- Chancel arch (Arch.), the arch which spans the main opening, leading to the chancel. -- Chancel casement, the principal window in a chancel. Tennyson. -- Chancel table, the communion table.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

chancel, n. the part of a church near the altar, reserved for the clergy, the choir, etc., usu. enclosed by a screen or separated from the nave by steps.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. L cancelli lattice

THESAURUS

chancel

Easter sepulcher, ambry, apse, baptistery, blindstory, choir, cloisters, confessional, confessionary, crypt, diaconicon, diaconicum, nave, porch, presbytery, rood loft, rood stair, rood tower, sacrarium, sacristy, transept, triforium, vestry

ROGET THESAURUS

chancel

Temple

N temple, place of worship, house of God, house of prayer, temple, cathedral, minster, church, kirk, chapel, meetinghouse, bethel, tabernacle, conventicle, basilica, fane, holy place, chantry, oratory, synagogue, mosque, marabout, pantheon, pagoda, joss house, dogobah, tope, kiosk, kiack, masjid, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, manse, deanery, glebe, Vatican, bishop's palace, Lambeth, altar, shrine, sanctuary, Holy of Holies, sanctum sanctorum, sacristy, sacrarium, communion table, holy table, Lord's table, table of the Lord, pyx, baptistery, font, piscina, stoup, aumbry, sedile, reredos, rood loft, rood screen, chancel, quire, choir, nave, aisle, transept, vestry, crypt, golgotha, calvary, Easter sepulcher, stall, pew, pulpit, ambo, lectern, reading desk, confessional, prothesis, credence, baldachin, baldacchino, apse, belfry, chapter house, presbytery, anxious-bench, anxious-seat, diaconicum, jube, mourner's bench, mourner's seat, cloisters, churchyard, monastery, priory, abbey, friary, convent, nunnery, cloister, claustral, cloistered, monastic, monasterial, conventual, ne vile fano, there's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.