suppedaneum

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/sʌpɪˈdeɪnɪəm/

noun

a foot-support for a crucified person, projecting from the base of the cross

OriginLate Latin suppedāneum →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounsuppedaneum (plural suppedanea)

plural suppedanea

  1. a foot-support for a crucified person, projecting from the base of the cross

    2002: At the center of the O, a nimbed Christ is fixed to a cross with a large serpent coiled at its base, his feet on a suppedaneum. — Celia Chazell, Reading Medieval Images, ed. Thelma Thomas & Elizabeth Sears (University of Michigan 2005, p. 27)

  2. the platform in front of the altar on which celebrating priest stands

Origin

  1. Late Latinsuppedāneum
  2. Englishsuppedaneum

From Late Latin suppedāneum, neuter of suppedāneus (“under the feet”), composed of sup- (“under”) + ped- (“foot”) + -aneus (“-aneous”).

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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