altar
/ˈɒl.tə/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: altars
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
Noun
Examples
To hawke, or els to hunt
From the auter to the funt,
Wyth cry unreverent,
Before the sacrament,
Wythin the holy church bowndis,
That of our fayth the grownd is.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A raised area around an altar in a church; the sanctuary.
NounRegister: informal
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “altar” mean?
A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
Is “altar” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.