reredos

American  

[reer-dos, reer-i-, rair-i-] / ˈrɪər dɒs, ˈrɪər ɪ-, ˈrɛər ɪ- /

noun

1. a screen or a decorated part of the wall behind an altar in a church.

2. the back of a fireplace or of a medieval open hearth.

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reredos British  

/ ˈrɪədɒs /

noun

1. a screen or wall decoration at the back of an altar, in the form of a hanging, tapestry, painting, or piece of metalwork or sculpture

2. another word for fireback

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Etymology

Origin of reredos

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, alteration of Anglo-French areredos, equivalent to Middle French arere “behind” + dos “back” (from Latin dorsum ); see arrears

Example Sentences

To prepare for the abatement, all open surfaces in the church must be covered, including the pipe organ on the balcony and the high altar, or reredos, which holds the tabernacle.

From Washington Times • May 13, 2018

Thus the chapel reredos is dominated by a massive cross.

From Time Magazine Archive

With its glowing gold, blue, red & black mosaics, its multi-colored marble panels and the ancient ikons on the reredos above its elaborate stone altar, it was a far cry from Manhattan's John Street Church.

From Time Magazine Archive

Beside the high altar, in the shadow of its towering reredos, he was enthroned.

From Time Magazine Archive

The space behind the reredos, with the corresponding bays of the aisles, were in the past called the lady choir.

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Lichfield A Description of Its Fabric and A Brief History of the Espicopal See by Clifton, A. B.

Related Words

• shrine