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A dais, or elevated platform; the highest step of the altar; a landing in a staircase. Shipley.

A seat in churches near the altar, to which offenders formerly fled for sanctuary. [Written variously fridstool, freedstool, etc.] [Obs.]

tal, carved wood, or, commonly, in rich stuff or in embroidery, covering the front of the altar. Frontals are usually changed according to the different ceremonies.

ow off fumes, as in combustion or chemical action; to rise up, as vapor. Where the golden altar fumed. Milton. Silenus lay, Whose constant cups lay fuming to his brain. Roscommon.

he genius of Augustus was a tutelary demon, to be sworn by and to receive offerings on an altar as a deity. Tylor.

A priest or deacon who reads the gospel at the altar during the communion service. The Archbishop of York was the celebrant, the epistoler being the dean, and the gospeler the Bishop of Sydney. Pall Mall Gazette.

Any member like a step, as the raised back of an altar or the like; a set raised over another. "The gradines of the amphitheeater." Layard.

A step or raised shelf, as above a sideboard or altar. Cf. Superaltar, and Gradin.

An opening made in the interior walls of a cruciform church to afford a view of the altar to those in the transepts; -- called, in architecture, a squint. Hook.

entral chapel of the three forming the sanctuary of a Coptic church. It contains the high altar, and is usually closed by an embroidered curtain.

e." Matt. vi. 9. Hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein. Jer. xvii. 24. His secret altar touched with hallowed fire. Milton. In a larger sense . . . we can not hallow this ground [Gettysburg]. A. Lincoln.

with the hand. Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh. Luke xxiv. 39. About his altar, handling holy things. Milton.

the whole congregation of Israel, in 165 b. c., to commemorate the dedication of the new altar set up at the purification of the temple of Jerusalem to replace the altar which had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes (1 Maccabees i. 58, iv. 59). The feast, which is mentioned in John x. 22, is held for eight days (begi…

An offering or oblation heaved up or elevated before the altar, as the shoulder of the peace offering. See Wave offering. Ex. xxix. 27.

(food). See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 10, 11. High admiral, the chief admiral. -- High altar, the principal altar in a church. -- High and dry, out of water; out of reach of the current or tide; -- said of a vessel, aground or beached. -- High and mighty arrogant; overbearing. [Colloq.] -- High art, art which deal…

One of the projections at the four corners of the Jewish altar of burnt offering. "Joab . . . caught hold on the horns of the altar." 1 Kings ii. 28.

he collect, epistle, and gospel, and while the priest is entering within the rails of the altar.

ir modern successors. W. Irving. The apostle would have no reveling or junketing upon the altar. South.

ists of calcareous plates. Ladies' man, a man who affects the society of ladies. -- Lady altar, an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. -- Lady chapel, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. -- Lady court, the court of a lady of the manor. -- Lady crab (Zoöl.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus…

pork in the surface of, before roasting; as, to lard poultry. And larded thighs on loaded altars laid. Dryden.