temple

temple

temple¹ [tem′pəl]

n.

[ME < OE tempel & OFr temple, both < L templum, temple, sanctuary, orig., space marked out: for IE base see TEMPER]

1.

a) a building for the worship of a divinity or divinities

b) anything viewed as the dwelling place of God or a divinity

2.

a) [T-] any of the Jewish sacred edifices for worshiping Jehovah, successively built in ancient Jerusalem

b) a synagogue, esp. of a Reform or Conservative congregation

3. a church

4. [T-] either of two sets (Inner Temple and Middle Temple) of London buildings housing two of England's four principal law societies: their site was formerly occupied by the London branch of the Knights Templars: see also INNS OF COURT

5. a building, usually of imposing size, etc., serving the public or an organization in some special way [a temple of art, a Masonic temple]

templed

adj.

temple² [tem′pəl]

n.

[OFr < VL tempula, altered < L tempora, the temples, pl. of tempus, akin to tempus, time (in reference to pulse): see TEMPER]

1. either of the flat surfaces alongside the forehead, in front of each ear

☆ 2. either of the sidepieces of a pair of glasses that fit across the temples and over the ears

temple³ [tem′pəl]

n.

[LME < MFr: see TEMPLATE]

a device for keeping the cloth in a loom stretched to its correct width during weaving