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caryatid

 - 3 dictionary results

car⋅y⋅at⋅id

  [kar-ee-at-id]
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–noun, plural -ids, -i⋅des  [-i-deez] . Architecture.
a sculptured female figure used as a column. Compare atlas (def. 5).
Origin:
1555–65; < L Caryātides (sing. Caryātis) < Gk Karytides columns shaped like women, lit., women of Karýai, Laconia

Related forms:
car⋅y⋅at⋅i⋅dal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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car·y·at·id   (kār'ē-āt'ĭd)   
n.   pl. car·y·at·ids or car·y·at·i·des (-ĭ-dēz') Architecture
A supporting column sculptured in the form of a draped female figure.

[From Latin Caryātides, caryatids, from Greek Karuātides, priestesses of Artemis at Caryae, caryatids, from Karuai, Caryae, a village of Laconia in southern Greece with a famous temple to Artemis.]
car'y·at'i·dal (-ĭ-dəl), car'y·at'i·de'an (-ĭ-dē'ən), car'y·a·tid'ic (-ə-tĭd'ĭk) 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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Word Origin & History

caryatid 
1563, "carved female figure used as a column," from M.Fr. cariatide, from L. caryatides, from Gk. Karyatides "priestess of Artemis at Caryae" (Gk. Karyai), a town in Laconia where dance festivals were held in Artemis' temple.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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