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antefixal

 - 2 dictionary results

an⋅te⋅fix

[an-tuh-fiks]
–noun, plural -fix⋅es, -fix⋅a [-fik-suh] . Architecture.
1. an upright ornament at the eaves of a tiled roof, to conceal the foot of a row of convex tiles that cover the joints of the flat tiles.
2. an ornament above the top molding of a cornice.

Origin:
1825–35; < L antefīxa, neut. pl. of antefīxus fastened in front, equiv. to ante- ante- + fīxus ptp. of fīgere to fix


an⋅te⋅fix⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To antefixal
an·te·fix   (ān'tē-fĭks')   


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n.   pl. an·te·fix·es or an·te·fix·a (-fĭk'sə)
An upright ornament along the eaves of a tiled roof designed to conceal the joints between the rows of tiles.

[From Latin antefīxa, pl. of antefīxum, something fastened in front, from antefīxus, fastened in front : ante-, ante- + fīxus, fastened, past participle of fīgere, to fasten; see dhīgw- in Indo-European roots.]
an'te·fix'al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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