triforium

[ trahy-fawr-ee-uhm, -fohr- ]

noun

, Architecture.

, plural tri·fo·ri·a [trahy-, fawr, -ee-, uh, -, fohr, -].

1. (in a church) the wall at the side of the nave, choir, or transept, corresponding to the space between the vaulting or ceiling and the roof of an aisle, often having a blind arcade or an opening in a gallery.

triforium

/ traɪˈfɔːrɪəm /

noun

1. an arcade above the arches of the nave, choir, or transept of a church

Derived Forms

• triˈforial, adjective

Other Words From

• tri·fori·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of triforium¹

1695–1705; < Anglo-Latin, special use of Medieval Latin triforium kind of gallery, literally, something with three openings, equivalent to Latin tri- tri- + for ( is ) opening, door + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of triforium¹

C18: from Anglo-Latin, apparently from Latin tri- + foris a doorway; referring to the fact that each bay characteristically had three openings

Example Sentences

Huge colored banners had been hung from the triforium and all the candles on the piers were lit.

From Literature

Above them was the triforium, a row of arches that went up another twenty feet in front of a narrow passageway.

From Literature

It opened in 1975 in the Civic Center to attract customers to the new underground mall below it — like the Triforium, a taxpayer-assisted project.

From Los Angeles Times

The Triforium has been the subject of many obituaries, all of them correct in one way or another.

From Los Angeles Times

Before the city embarks on new Olympics-driven arts projects, it should — it should be required to — give the city its money’s worth at last, with the thrill of a consistently working Triforium.

From Los Angeles Times