impluvium

[ im-ploo-vee-uhm ]

noun

, plural im·plu·vi·a [im-, ploo, -vee-, uh].

1. a basin or tank within a compluvium.

Word History and Origins

Origin of impluvium¹

1805–15; < Latin, equivalent to impluv-, base of impluere to rain (upon, into) ( im- im- ¹ + pluere to rain; pluvial ) + -ium -ium

Example Sentences

Where the gift shop and other later additions now sit was once an impluvium, a Roman-era cistern that sat in a soaring 50-foot-high space that was open to the sky.

From New York Times

The house possesses features that match the horizontally fluted walls, pillars, central impluvium and carved decorations observed in the architecture of ancient Benin.

From The Guardian

These main streets, which ran at right angles to each other, had underground drainage made of a sunken impluvium with an outlet to carry away storm water.

From The Guardian

It is approached by a flight of brick steps, and after entering the door-way, which is flanked by two small lateral columns, one finds himself in a court resembling the patio which occupies the centre of Spanish and Moorish dwellings, and which the ancients termed impluvium or cavædium.

From Project Gutenberg

The metal dial face is supported by a marble slab resting on two carved standards of classic design representing conventionalized lions, these being copies of those two splendid standards unearthed at Pompeii, which still may be seen by the side of the impluvium in the atrium or main hall of the finest Gr�co-Roman dwelling-place which has been restored in that wonderful city.

From Project Gutenberg