narthex

noun

nar·​thex ˈnär-ˌtheks How to pronounce narthex (audio)
1
: the portico of an ancient church
2
: a vestibule leading to the nave of a church

Examples of narthex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And sure enough, Spencer was standing in the narthex, on hand to support his very dear friend. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 22 May 2025 There is a narthex, or entrance hall, brightly lit and full of movement in and out. Diarmaid MacCulloch, The New York Review of Books, 2 July 2020 The processional from the narthex down the nave to the altar has been compressed into a passage of just a few steps. Curbed, 6 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek narthēx, from Greek, giant fennel, cane, casket

First Known Use

circa 1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of narthex was circa 1673

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Cite this Entry

“Narthex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/narthex. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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