lectisternium

noun

lec·​ti·​ster·​ni·​um

ˌlektəˈstərnēəm

plural lectisterniums

-ēəmz

or lectisternia

-ēə

: a religious rite of ancient Greece and Rome marked by the placing of images of gods on couches and the spreading of food before them

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from lectus couch + -i- + -sternium (from sternere to spread)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!