adytum
Americannoun
plural
adyta-
(in ancient worship) a sacred place that the public was forbidden to enter; an inner shrine.
-
the most sacred or reserved part of any place of worship.
noun
Etymology
Origin of adytum
1665–75; < Latin < Greek ádyton (place) not to be entered, equivalent to a- a- 6 + -dyton, neuter of -dytos, verbid of dýein to enter
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Later that night, I peeked into the center’s adytum, a dark and lovely stone chapel whose altar glowed with candlelight.
From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2011
The crypt of adytum, used by priests for unknown rituals, was about 12 by 13 feet, roughly built, its floor stuccoed.
From Time Magazine Archive
They never alluded to their affluent neighbor, never suffered gossip concerning the Boones in what Olympia humorously called the "Orphic adytum," the "tabby-shop," as Wesley named the Perley parlors.
From The Iron Game A Tale of the War by Keenan, Henry F. (Henry Francis)
I must find him: I must continue my lessons: I must lead him into the adytum of Wisdom.
From Last Days of Pompeii by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
Jurgen lifted Anaïtis from the altar, and they went into the chancel and searched for the adytum.
From Jurgen A Comedy of Justice by Cabell, James Branch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
