high altar
1
7.5
- noun
- Specialized
:
altar mayor
- Softly singing penitential psalms, four officiating priests spread out a coarse grey cloth on the floor before the high altar.
- high altar of the cathedral
- high altar of the church
- decorations of the high altar
Examples
-
After a short genuflection before the high altar and the statue of St. Gerard, they made their way to their choir stalls.
Academic text (1992) -
The subject of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple was particularly appropriate for the high altar, on which the tabernacle containing the Host stood.
Academic text (1994) -
There was a large window behind the high altar in the east of the church.
Blog text (28) -
The high altar should be placed against this dividing wall.
Academic text (1994) -
The high altar and its reliquary superstructure appear to project forward of the screen.
Academic text (1995) -
Several payments for work connected with the decoration of the high altar were made in the fall of 1655.
Academic text (1994) -
The relics and the statue of St. Gerard were on the floor before the high altar.
Academic text (1992) -
The focus on the high altar reflected the augmented status of the Eucharist and a taste for elaborate liturgy.
Academic text (2018) -
The incongruous baldacchino suspended above the cathedral's high altar was removed during the restoration of 1926-28.
Academic text (1995) -
The high altar was beautifully decorated with flowers for the Easter service.
Synonyms
238
2.9
A raised table in a religious building where people place offerings and pray
Table at the altar where the priest places the bread and wine during a service
How Prominent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'principal or elevated altar' is directly derivable from combining 'high' (elevated/main) with 'altar' (a worship structure). This adjective + noun composition is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
High altar comes from old churches where the main altar stood on a raised step or platform, so it was literally high above the floor. That's why high altar means the 'main altar' used for important services.