lectisternium

noun

lec·​ti·​ster·​ni·​um
ˌlektəˈstərnēəm
plural lectisterniums
-ēəmz
or lectisternia
-ēə
: a religious rite of ancient Greece and Rome marked by the placing of images of gods on couches and the spreading of food before them

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from lectus couch + -i- + -sternium (from sternere to spread)

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Cite this Entry

“Lectisternium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lectisternium. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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