Temple
/ˈtɛmpl/noun
A building devoted to worship, especially in religious contexts.
Did you know?The term 'temple' is derived from Latin 'templum', which referred not just to a place of worship, but also to a sacred space for augury and divination, connecting the divine with earthly matters.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tem-
“to cut or to divide, often associated with marking sacred spaces.”
Latin
Latin
templum
“A sacred area or space marked out for worship or divination.”
Old French
Old French
tempel
“A place of worship or shrine.”
Middle English
Middle English
temple
“A building for Christian worship or a place of pagan worship.”
Modern English
English
temple
“A structure for religious practice or ceremonies.”
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