altar-cloth

altar-cloth

The priest carefully places the clean altar-cloth on the table.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A cloth covering for an altar: "altar-cloth" refers to a piece of fabric, often decorative or ceremonial, used to cover the surface of an altar in a religious context, typically in Christian churches or other places of worship.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The priest carefully smoothed the altar-cloth before the service began. (The fabric covering the altar was arranged neatly for the religious ceremony.)
    • The altar-cloth was embroidered with gold thread and religious symbols. (The decorative cloth on the altar featured intricate stitching and sacred designs.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to change the altar-cloth": to replace the cloth covering the altar, often for liturgical seasons or special occasions.

    • The altar-cloth is changed to a green one during ordinary time in the church calendar. (The fabric is swapped to match the season of the liturgical year.)

  • "altar-cloth as a symbol": the cloth can represent purity, reverence, or the sanctity of the altar space.

    • The white altar-cloth signifies the purity of Christ in many traditions. (The white fabric symbolizes religious purity.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Altar (n): a table or flat-topped block used as a focus for religious rituals, especially for making offerings or celebrating the Eucharist.

    • The altar was made of marble and stood at the front of the church. (The sacred table was a central feature of the worship space.)

  • Cloth (n): a piece of fabric, often used for covering or cleaning.

    • She wiped the table with a soft cloth. (A piece of material used for wiping.)

  • Altar cloth (n): an alternative spelling of "altar-cloth," without the hyphen.

    • The altar cloth was donated by a local parishioner. (The covering for the altar was a gift.)
Synonyms

  • Altar covering: a general term for any fabric placed on an altar.

    • The altar covering was made of fine linen. (The cloth on the altar was of high-quality material.)

  • Altar frontal: a specific type of cloth that hangs down the front of the altar, often matching the altar-cloth.

    • The altar frontal was embroidered with the same pattern as the altar-cloth. (The front hanging cloth coordinated with the top covering.)
Related Idioms