| ABACUS |
The slab that forms the top of the capital.
See ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE |
| ABUTMENT |
A masonry mass that takes the weight and thrust of an arch, vault, or truss. See ARCH. |
| ACANTHUS |
A Mediterranean plant (Acanthus mollis and Acanthus spinous) whose deeply serrated leaf was stylized by the Greeks and the Romans to become one of the principal ornaments of classical architecture. It identifies a Corinthian capital.
  |
| AEDICULE |
A small house or tempted frame.
 |
| ANCONE |
A scroll-shaped bracket, customarily found in pairs, that supports a cornice over a door or a window. See BRACKET. |
| ANTHEMION (ANTHEMIA, pl.) |
 An ornament based on the honeysuckle or palm leaf.
Also a PALMETTE.
|
| APPLIQUE |
See SCONCE. |
| ARABESQUE |
An intricate decorative pattern joining plant, animal, and sometimes human forms. |
| ARCH |
A curved construction used to span an opening or recess.
 |
| ARCHITRAVE |
The bottom third of the entablature. the part resting on the column or pilaster and supporting a frieze. It is often divided into fascia. See ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE. |
| ASTRAGAL |
A small half round to be seen on a capital. See ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE and MOLDINGS. Also a molded strip applied to one side of a door leaf where the two leaves meet. It is designed to project over the adjoining leaf when the door is closed. |
| ATTIC |
A story built above the cornice of a building. |
|
