antependium

[ an-tee-pen-dee-uh m ]
/ ˌæn tiˈpɛn di əm /

noun, plural an·te·pen·di·a [an-tee-pen-dee-uh] /ˌæn tiˈpɛn di ə/.

the decoration of the front of an altar, as a covering of silk or a painted panel.

Origin of antependium

From Medieval Latin, dating back to 1690–1700; see origin at ante-, pend, -ium

Words nearby antependium

antenuptial, antenuptial marriage contract, anteorbital, antepartum, antepast, antependium, antepenult, antepenultimate, anteporch, anteportico, anteposition

British Dictionary definitions for antependium

antependium
/ (ˌæntɪˈpɛndɪəm) /

noun plural -dia (-dɪə)

a covering hung over the front of an altar

Word Origin for antependium

C17: from Medieval Latin, from Latin ante- + pendēre to hang