tablinum

[ ta-blahy-nuhm ]

noun

, plural tab·li·na [ta-, blahy, -n, uh].

1. (in an ancient Roman house) a large, open room at the side of the peristyle farthest from the main entrance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tablinum¹

1820–30; < Latin tab ( u ) līnum, equivalent to tabula ( table ) + -īnum, neuter of -īnus -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Beyond the basilica is the Tablinum, the great hall of the palace, which served as a kind of commemorative domestic museum, where family statues and pictures were preserved.

From Project Gutenberg

Appropriately opening from the family picture gallery of the Tablinum, was the Lararium, a private chapel for the worship of such members of the family—Livia and many others—as were deified after death.

From Project Gutenberg

These villas easily covered 800 or 900 square meters and were built around three central spaces -- the atrium with an opening in the roof; the tablinum, the main living room; and the peristylium, another court surrounded by columns.

From BusinessWeek

The Tablinum in the house of the vestals and the temple of Jupiter on the Capitol were paved with sectile mosaic.

From Project Gutenberg

Entering by the ostium, the two pontiffs passed onwards through the several courts known as the atrium and the cavum coedium into the tablinum, where, having thrown themselves upon couches surrounding the central table, ready slaves removed their sandals and head-gear, while others brought water to wash their hands and feet.

From Project Gutenberg