Meanings
nounacroterium (plural acroteria)
plural acroteria · alternative acroter · alternative akroterion · alternative acroterion
- architectureOne 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.
- One of the pedestals, for vases or statues, forming a part roof balustrade.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀκρωτήριον
- Latinacrōtērium
- Englishacroterium
From Latin acrōtērium, from Ancient Greek ἀκρωτήριον (akrōtḗrion); related to ἄκρος (ákros, “highest, at the extremity”). By surface analysis, acro- + Latin -tērium. Fully Latinized form. Doublet of acroter.
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish akroterion
- akroterionsmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
French acrotère
- acrotèresmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Irish acraitéiriam
- acraitéiriamsmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Italian acroterio
- acroteriosmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Latvian akrotērijs
- akrotērijssmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Polish akroterion, akroterium
- akroterionsmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
- akroteriumsmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
- naszczytniksmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Portuguese acrotério
- acrotériosmall pedestal for a statue or ornament
Cite this entry
APA
acroterium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterium
MLA
“acroterium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterium. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acroterium,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acroterium.
Source: acroterium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.