diptych

noun

dip·​tych ˈdip-(ˌ)tik 

1

: a 2-leaved hinged tablet folding together to protect writing on its waxed surfaces

2

: a picture or series of pictures (such as an altarpiece) painted or carved on two hinged tablets

3

: a work made up of two matching parts

Illustration of diptych

• diptych 2

Examples of diptych in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 2020 diptych of folklore and evermore showed Swift spreading her songwriting wings, and this track — written from the perspective of someone who’s mulling over a holiday fling with a long-ago ex — is one of her best recent offerings. —Maura Johnston, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024

Upstairs, a second office painted in jade features a 1970s cowhide screen that Driver found at Marche Paul Bert in Paris and a Nike Schroeder diptych, which was the first piece of art Driver purchased years ago for the clients’ first home. —Lindsay Talbot, Architectural Digest, 18 Dec. 2024

And while the reception for her art changed drastically over the years, the work itself maintained an intellectual rigor, criticality and playfulness that spanned her performances, collages, photographic diptychs and series, writings and more. —Benjamin Sutton, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024

Photo: Tria Giovan The Kitchen: A diptych of Roy Lichtenstein posters. —Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin diptycha, plural, from Greek, from neuter plural of diptychos folded in two, from di- + ptychē fold

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1