High Altar
/ˌhaɪ ˈɔːl.tər/noun
The principal altar in a church, traditionally located at the eastern end of the sanctuary.
Did you know?In medieval churches, the high altar was commonly positioned toward the east, aligning Christian worship with the rising sun and the symbolism of resurrection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*al-
“To nourish, grow, or cause to grow; the ancestral root behind Latin words connected with height and nourishment.”
Old English
Old English
hēah
“High, lofty, or elevated; the ancestor of modern English “high.””
Classical Latin
Latin
altare
“An altar or raised place of sacrifice, related to altus, “high” or “raised.””
Old English
Old English
altar
“An altar, borrowed through Christian Latin and used for a sacred place of offering.”
Middle English
Middle English
high auter
“The elevated or principal altar of a church; auter was a form descended from Latin altare through Old French.”
Modern English
English
high altar
“The principal altar in a church, especially one placed at the eastern end of the sanctuary.”