n. [ OE. alter, auter, autier, fr. L. altare, pl. altaria, altar, prob. fr. altus high: cf. OF. alter, autier, F. autel. Cf. Altitude. ]
Noah builded an altar unto the Lord. Gen. viii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Altar is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, altar bread or altar-bread. [ 1913 Webster ]
Altar cloth or
Altar-cloth,
Altar cushion,
Altar frontal.
Altar rail,
Altar screen,
Altar tomb,
Family altar,
To lead (as a bride) to the altar,
n. [ Cf. OF. auterage, autelage. ]
n. a boy who assists a priest at the clebration of the Holy Mass and other forms of public worship; -- also called
n. [ Cf. LL. altarista, F. altariste. ] (Old Law)
n. The painting or piece of sculpture above and behind the altar; reredos. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In the proper position of an altar, that is, at the east of a church with its ends towards the north and south. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
‖n. See Saltarello. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ It., fr. L. saltare to jump. ] A popular Italian dance in quick 3-4 or 6-8 time, running mostly in triplets, but with a hop step at the beginning of each measure. See Tarantella. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Arch.) A raised shelf or stand on the back of an altar, on which different objects can be placed; a predella or gradino. [ 1913 Webster ]