chapiter
(ˈtʃæpɪtə(r))
Forms: 5 chapiture, -ytur(e, 6–8 chapter, (6 chaptre), 7– chapiter, (7 -tre, -tar).
[a. F. chapitre:—OF. chapitle: see next. (French no longer uses chapitre in sense 3, but chapiteau:—L. capitellum: see capital, and also chapter.]
† 1. gen. Earlier spelling of chapter.
† 2. spec. A summary; = capitle 3. Obs.
| [1292 Britton 22 Des chapitres qe liveré lour serrount en escrit.] 1483 Cath. Angl. 58 A chapiture, capitulum. 1607 J. Cowell Interpr. (1672) Chapiters, capitula..signifies in our Common Law a Summary, or content of such matters as are to be inquired of, or presented before Justices..in their Sessions. Chapitres or Capitula be now called Articles. 1641 in Termes de la Ley. 1670 in Blount Law Dict. |
3. Arch. The capital of a column. (Still an occasional equivalent of capital.)
| c 1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 670/4 (Nomina pertin. domorum) Hoc capitulum, A⊇ chapytur. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 31 Soom for great palaces doo slise from quarrye the chapters. 1600 Holland Livy xlii. xx. 1126 A certaine columne..rent and cloven from the very base to the chapter. 1611 Bible 1 Kings vii. 16 Two Chapiters of molten brasse, to set vpon the tops of the pillars. 1653 H. Cogan Diod. Sic. 142 Great Pillars, whereof the chapters are either of gold or silver. 1676 F. Vernon in Phil. Trans. II. 580 Temples with pillars and chapitres demolish't. 1744 J. Paterson Comm. Milton's P.L. 145 A moulding next above the chapiter or head of a column. 1807 Robinson Archæol. Græca i. i. 4 The chapiters seem to be a mixture between the Ionic and Doric orders. 1878 Masque of Poets 28 On bulging chapiters that enthrone Colossal lotus leaves of stone. |