predella

[ pri-del-uh; Italian pre-del-lah ]
/ prɪˈdɛl ə; Italian prɛˈdɛl lɑ /

noun, plural pre·del·le [pri-del-ee; Italian pre-del-le] /prɪˈdɛl i; Italian prɛˈdɛl lɛ/. Fine Arts.

the base of an altarpiece, often decorated with small paintings or reliefs.

Origin of predella

1840–50; < Italian < Langobardic *predel, *pretel, derivative of *pret- board < Germanic *bret- (> Old High German brët (German Brett), Old English, Old Saxon bred board, plank; akin to board); conformed in It to the diminutive suffix -ella -elle

Words nearby predella

predatory pricing, predawn, predecease, predecessor, predecidual, predella, predentin, predeposit, predesignate, predestinarian, predestinate

Example sentences from the Web for predella

British Dictionary definitions for predella

predella
/ (prɪˈdɛlə, Italian preˈdɛlla) /

noun plural -le (-liː, Italian -le)

a painting or sculpture or a series of small paintings or sculptures in a long narrow strip forming the lower edge of an altarpiece or the face of an altar step or platform
a platform in a church upon which the altar stands

Word Origin for predella

C19: from Italian: stool, step, probably from Old High German bret board