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Glite Dictionary
monopteral

monopteral

9.9
A building with a ring of columns that hold a roof and no walls
  • adjective
  • /ˌmɒnəˈpɛrəl/
  • Specialized
: monoptera
  • The ancient temple is monopteral, with a circular colonnade supporting its domed roof.

Examples

  • A monopteral rotunda stood in the center of the classical garden, visible from every angle.

  • The ancient Greeks built a monopteral temple to honor their gods.

  • The architect was inspired by monopteral designs from classical antiquity.

  • A monopteral structure often features a circular layout.

  • A monopteral rotunda stood in the center of the classical garden, visible from every angle.

  • The ancient temple is monopteral, with a circular colonnade supporting its domed roof.

  • The ancient Greeks built a monopteral temple to honor their gods.

Surface Forms

monopteral positive

Morphology

monopteral = monopteron (opaque) = mono + pter + al

Although the word can be analyzed with classical elements meaning 'single' and 'wing/column' plus the adjectival suffix '-al', the architectural sense is highly specialized and not recoverable for most learners from the parts alone.

Etymology

Monopteral comes from Greek parts mono- 'one' and pteron 'wing'. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine one circular 'wing' of columns holding up a roof, so a monopteral building has a single ring of columns supporting the roof and usually no walls.