antimension

noun

an·​ti·​men·​si·​on

ˌantə̇ˈmensēˌän,

-tē-,

-ōn,

-ən

variants or antimensium

-sēəm

or antimins

-ˌminz

or antiminsion

-ˈminsēˌän,

-ōn,

-ən

plural antimensia or antiminsia

-sēə

Eastern Church

: a consecrated piece of silk or linen cloth containing relics consecrated by a bishop and kept on the altar

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin antimensium, from Middle Greek antiminsion, antimēsion, probably from Greek anti- anti- entry 1 + Latin mensa table + Greek -ion -ium

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