diptych
(ˈdɪptɪk)
Forms: 7 diptyck, 7–8 diptick, dyptick, 7–9 diptyc, 8 dyptic, 7– diptych.
[ad. L. diptycha (pl.), a. late Gr. δίπτυχα pair of writing-tablets, neut. pl. of δίπτυχος double-folded, f. δι-, δίς twice + πτυχή fold. Cf. mod.F. diptyque, c 1700 in Hatz.-Darm.]
1. Anything folded, so as to have two leaves; esp. a two-leaved, hinged tablet of metal, ivory or wood, having its inner surfaces covered with wax, used by the ancients for writing with the stylus.
| 1622 Sparrow Bk. Com. Prayer Pref., Diptychs or Folded Tables. 1731 Gale in Phil. Trans. XXXVII. 161 The Diptychs and Triptychs that were covered with Wax, served only for common Occurrences. 1829 J. Flaxman Lect. Sculpt. iii. 98 The Greeks executed small works of great elegance, as may be seen in the dyptics, or ivory covers, to consular records, or sacred volumes. 1859 Gullick & Timbs Paint. 306 The diptychs..were among the Romans formed of two little tablets of wood or ivory, folding one over the other like a book. |
b. spec. (in pl.) Applied to the artistically wrought tablets distributed by the consuls, etc. of the later Empire to commemorate their tenure of office; hence transferred to a list of magistrates.
| 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. 27 Their names and portraits, engraved on gilt tablets of ivory, were dispersed over the empire as presents to the provinces..the senate..the people. (Note) Montfaucon has represented some of these tablets or dypticks. 1797 Monthly Mag. 506 The consular dyptics contain similar cyphers. |
2. Eccl. (in pl.) Tablets on which were recorded the names of those of the orthodox, living and dead, who were commemorated by the early Church at the celebration of the eucharist. Hence, The list or register of such names; the intercessions in the course of which the names were introduced.
| 1640 Hammond Poor Man's Tithing Wks. 1684 IV. 5 Enrol their names in the book of life, in those sacred eternal diptycks. 1680 Stillingfl. Mischief Separation (ed. 2) 30 Atticus restored the name of St. Chrysostom to the Diptychs of the Church. 1725 tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 17th C. I. v. 64 The Dipticks..have been famous, in the Councils of the East ever since the Council of Chalcedon. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) I. iii. iii. 40 The Names of Acacius and all who communicated with him were erased from the diptychs. 1882–3 Schaff Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 643 In the twelfth century the diptychs fell out of use in the Latin Church. |
3. An altar-piece or other painting composed of two leaves which close like a book.
| 1852 A. Jameson Leg. Madonna Introd. (1857) 52 A Diptych is an altar-piece composed of two divisions or leaves, which are united by hinges, and close like a book. 1863 Baring-Gould Iceland 158 Svinavatn church contains a curious diptych with mediæval figures. |