basilican

Variant of basilica

basilica definition

ba·sili·ca (bə sil′i kə; also, -zil′-)

noun pl. basilicas -·cas

  1. Obsolete a royal palace
  2. in ancient Rome, a rectangular building with a broad nave ending in an apse, and flanked by colonnaded aisles, used as a courtroom, public hall, etc.
  3. a Christian church built in this style
  4. R.C.Ch. a church granted certain ceremonial rights

Etymology: L < Gr basilikē (stoa), royal (portico) < basilikos: see basil

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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