absis
- I Plin. Ep. 2, 17 (but in Plin. 36, 12, 17, 77, the correct read. is aspidem, v. Sillig ad h. l.). —In a church, the choir, Isid. Orig. 15, 18, 7, and Paul. Ep. 12 (in both of which it is doubtful whether absis, idis, or absida, ae, should be read; cf. Areval upon Isid. l. c.). —
- II The circle which a star describes in its orbit, Plin. 2, 18, 16, § 79; cf. id. 2, 15, 13, § 63.—
- III A round dish or bowl, Dig. 34, 2, 19, § 6; ib. Fragm. 32, § 1.
coupure.
ABSISor APSIS(the former more correct in Latin) (ἁψίς), in its literal meaning from ἅπτω, is a fastening of any kind; for example, the meshes of a net. (Hom. Il. 5.487.) It was applied specially to the joining together the extremities of a piece of wood, so as to give it the shape of a bow; and hence it came to signify anything of that shape, such as a bow, an arch, or a wheel. (Hes. Op. 424; Hdt. 4.72.) A potter's wheel is described, in the Anthology, as κύκλος ἁψῖδος. The next transition of meaning is to anything vaulted (for example, ἡ ὑπουρανία ἁψίς, the vault of heaven, Plat. Phaedr. p. 247 b); and in this sense it was adopted in architecture, first, for any building or portion of a building of a circular form, or vaulted (Plin. Ep. 2.17.18), and more especially for the circular and vaulted end of a Basilica. (Paul. Nol. Ep. 12; Augustin, Ep. 203; Isid. Orig. 15.8.) For the application of the word in Christian churches, see Dict. of Christ. Ant. S. V. APSE.
[P.S]or apsis (ἁψίς). Literally, a fastening of any kind. It was applied specially to the joining together of the extremities of a piece of wood, so as to give it the shape of a bow; and hence it came to signify anything of that shape, such as a bow, an arch, or a wheel (Hes. Op. 424; Herod.iv. 72.) The next transition of meaning is to anything vaulted (for example, ἡ ὑπουρανία ἁψίς, the vault of heaven, Phaedr. 247 B); and in this sense it was adopted in architecture, first, for any building or portion of a building of a circular form, or vaulted ( Epist. ii. 17. 18), and more especially for the circular and vaulted end of a basilica (Paul. Nol. Ep. 12). In Christian churches the apse came to mean the end of the choir, where the bishop's throne was placed.