acroterion

A1C3R1O1T1E1R1I1O1N1

A form of acroterium — One of the small pedestals, for statues or other ornaments, placed on the apex and at the basal angles of a pediment, or upon the gables in Gothic architecture.

OriginAncient Greek ἀκρωτήριον →
Scrabble 12
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounacroterion (plural acroterions or acroteria)

plural acroterions · plural acroteria · alternative akroterion · alternative acroterium · alternative acroter

  1. alternativeAlternative form of acroterium.

    They include an acroterion, or pediment decoration, of a winged sphinx; an Etruscan terra cotta antefix, or roof ornament, similar to one returned by the Getty last year; and terra cotta reliefs of warriors on horseback.

    2009 March 17, Elisabetta Povoledo, “Danish Museum Resists Return of Disputed Artifacts”, in New York Times

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀκρωτήριον
  2. Englishacroterion

Latinized form of Ancient Greek ἀκρωτήριον (akrōtḗrion), from ἄκρος (ákros) + -τήριον (-tḗrion). By surface analysis, acro- + Ancient Greek -τήριον (-tḗrion). Semi-Latinized form.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

acroterion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterion

MLA

“acroterion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterion. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acroterion,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterion.

Source: acroterion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.