Chancel

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃænsəl/

Definitions of chancel

noun the area of a church near the altar, often enclosed by a screen or railing, where the clergy and choir sit

Example Sentences

A1 The bride and groom stood at the front of the church near the chancel.

A2 During the wedding ceremony, the choir sang from the chancel.

B1 The stained glass windows in the chancel were beautifully illuminated by the sunlight.

B2 The intricate carvings on the wooden pews in the chancel were a sight to behold.

C1 The restoration of the historic church included refurbishing the chancel to its former glory.

C2 The acoustics in the chancel were so perfect that even a whisper could be heard throughout the entire church.

Examples of chancel in a Sentence

formal The choir gathered in the chancel of the cathedral for the Sunday service.

informal Let's meet in the chancel of the church before the wedding starts.

slang I heard there's a secret passage behind the chancel, wanna check it out?

figurative The chancel of the library is where I find my peace and quiet to study.

Grammatical Forms of chancel

• past tense: chanced
• plural: chancels
• comparative: more chancel
• superlative: most chancel
• present tense: chancel
• future tense: will chancel
• perfect tense: have chancelled
• continuous tense: is chancelling
• singular: chancel
• positive degree: chancel
• infinitive: to chancel
• gerund: chancelling
• participle: chancelled

Origin and Evolution of chancel

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'chancel' originated from the Latin word 'cancellus' which means lattice or barrier.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to the area around the altar in a church that is reserved for the clergy, the meaning of 'chancel' has evolved to include the entire area around the altar in some churches.