cymatium

American  

[si-mey-shee-uhm, sahy-] / sɪˈmeɪ ʃi əm, saɪ- /

noun

Architecture.

plural

cymatia

1. the uppermost member of a classical cornice or of a cornice of similar form: usually a cyma recta in classical examples.

2. echinus.

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cymatium British  

/ sɪˈmeɪtɪəm, -ʃɪəm /

noun

1. architect the top moulding of a classical cornice or entablature

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Etymology

Origin of cymatium

1555–65; < Latin < Greek kȳmátion, equivalent to kȳmat- (stem of kŷma wave; see cyma) + -ion diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

As was customary, the shelf takes the form of a cymatium, and the projections above the consoles and central panel are characteristic details.

From The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia by Cousins, Frank

The style of carving of the cymatium with its astragal should be the Lesbian.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Besides, there are fasciae running all round under the cymatia on the jambs, and apportioned so as to be equal to three sevenths of a jamb, excluding the cymatium.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Contrasting pleasingly with this fret and on opposite sides of it are a plain molded ovolo outlining the panel and a small floreated torus supplemented by a molded cymatium within.

From The Colonial Architecture of Philadelphia by Cousins, Frank

Omitting the cymatium, the rest of the architrave is to be divided into twelve parts, and three of these will form the lowest fascia, four, the next, and five, the highest fascia.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio