pulpit

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pul=pit

CIDE DICTIONARY

pulpit, n. [L. pulpitum: cf. OF. pulpite, F. pulpitre.].

•  An elevated place, or inclosed stage, in a church, in which the clergyman stands while preaching.  [1913 Webster]

  "I stand like a clerk in my pulpit."  [1913 Webster]
•  The whole body of the clergy; preachers as a class; also, preaching.  [1913 Webster]

  "I say the pulpit (in the sober use
  Of its legitimate, peculiar powers)
  Must stand acknowledged, while the world shall stand,
  The most important and effectual guard,
  Support, and ornament of virtue's cause."  [1913 Webster]
•  A desk, or platform, for an orator or public speaker.  [1913 Webster]

pulpit, a. 

 Of or pertaining to the pulpit, or preaching; as, a pulpit orator; pulpit eloquence.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pulpit, n.
1 a raised enclosed platform in a church etc. from which the preacher delivers a sermon.
2 (prec. by the) preachers or preaching collectively.

Etymology

ME f. L pulpitum scaffold, platform

THESAURUS

pulpit

ambo, apostleship, balcony, call, care of souls, catafalque, dais, desk, emplacement, estrade, floor, gallery, heliport, holy orders, hustings, landing, landing pad, landing stage, launching pad, lectern, pastorage, pastoral care, pastorate, platform, podium, priesthood, priestship, rabbinate, reading desk, rostrum, sacred calling, soapbox, stage, step terrace, stump, terrace, the church, the cloth, the desk, the ministry, the pulpit, tribunal, tribune, vocation

ROGET THESAURUS

pulpit

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.

School

N school, academy, university, alma mater, college, seminary, Lyceum, institute, institution, palaestra, Gymnasium, class, seminar, day school, boarding school, preparatory school, primary school, infant school, dame's school, grammar school, middle class school, Board school, denominational school, National school, British and Foreign school, collegiate school, art school, continuation school, convent school, County Council school, government school, grant-in-aid school, high school, higher grade school, military school, missionary school, naval school, naval academy, state-aided school, technical school, voluntary school, school, school of art, kindergarten, nursery, creche, reformatory, pulpit, lectern, soap box desk, reading desk, ambo, lecture room, theater, auditorium, amphitheater, forum, state, rostrum, platform, hustings, tribune, school book, horn book, text book, grammar, primer, abecedary, rudiments, manual, vade mecum, encyclopedia, cyclopedia, Lindley Murray, Cocker, dictionary, lexicon, professorship, lectureship, readership, fellowship, tutorship, chair, School Board Council of Education, Board of Education, Board of Studies, Prefect of Studies, Textbook Committee, propaganda, scholastic, academic, collegiate, educational, ex cathedra.