The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Lectern — • Support for a book, reading desk, or bookstand, a solid and permanent structure upon which the Sacred Books, which were generally large and heavy, were placed when used by the ministers of the altar in liturgical functions Catholic Encyclopedia … Catholic encyclopedia
Lectern — Lec tern (l[e^]k t[u^]rn), n. [Written also {lecturn} and {lettern}.] [LL. lectrinum, fr. lectrum; cf. L. legere, lectum, to read.] 1. A choir desk, or reading desk, in some churches, from which the lections, or Scripture lessons, are chanted or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
lectern — (n.) early 14c., lettorne, lettron, from O.Fr. letron, from M.L. lectrinum, from L.L. lectrum lectern, from root of L. legere to read (see LECTURE (Cf. lecture) (n.)). Half re Latinized in 15c … Etymology dictionary
lectern — [n] reading desk ambo, platform, pulpit, reading stand, rostrum, stand, support; concepts 440,443 … New thesaurus
lectern — ► NOUN ▪ a tall stand with a sloping top from which a speaker can read while standing up. ORIGIN Latin lectrum, from legere to read … English terms dictionary
lectern — [lek′tərn] n. [ME lectorne, altered (infl. by L forms) < earlier lettrun < OFr < ML lectrum < L lectus, pp. of legere, to read: see LOGIC] 1. a reading desk in a church, esp. such a desk from which a part of the Scriptures is read in… … English World dictionary
Lectern — A lectern (from the Latin lectus , past participle of legere , to read ) is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to a some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading… … Wikipedia
lectern — /lek teuhrn/, n. 1. a reading desk in a church on which the Bible rests and from which the lessons are read during the church service. 2. a stand with a slanted top, used to hold a book, speech, manuscript, etc., at the proper height for a reader … Universalium
lectern — UK [ˈlektɜː(r)n] / US [ˈlektərn] noun [countable] Word forms lectern : singular lectern plural lecterns a tall piece of furniture with a sloping surface where you put an open book or document when you are giving a speech … English dictionary
Lectern — The desk or stand from which the Scriptural Lessons in Church are read, and is so called from this fact. The term lectern is derived from the Latin word lecturni, meaning a pulpit or from the Greek lektron, a couch or rest for a book. Lecterns … American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia
