amphithyron

[ ahm-fee-thee-rawn; English am-fith-uh-ron ]

noun

, plural am·phi·thy·ra [ahm-, fee, -thee-, r, ah, am-, fith, -er-, uh], am·phi·thy·rons.

1. Greek Orthodox Church. a divided curtain in front of the door of the iconostasis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphithyron¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Greek amphíthyron “hall,” neuter noun use of adjective amphíthyros “having a door on both sides, having a double entrance,” equivalent to amphi- prefix meaning “around, on both sides” + -thýron, from thýr- stem of thýra “door” + neuter noun and adjective suffix -on ; amphi-, door ( def )