What does entablement mean?
Entablement is a rare English noun, encountered chiefly as a variant of the established architectural term 'entablature', which denotes the horizontal superstructure of a classical building resting on its columns. In classical architecture, such a superstructure typically comprises the architrave, frieze, and cornice, and serves both structural and decorative purposes. Because 'entablement' is so sparsely attested, writers and speakers should generally prefer 'entablature', which appears consistently in standard dictionaries and architectural references. The word would be understood primarily by readers familiar with classical building terminology, and even then it may be taken as an unusual or erroneous form.
nounDefinition pending review.
"The architect sketched the entablement above the doorway with careful precision."
"The sculptor carved figures along the entablement of the temple facade."
"Restorers spent months repairing the crumbling entablement above the portico."
Because the word itself is rare, its plural is correspondingly uncommon.
"The ruins still display fragments of several ancient entablements."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of entablement
Entablement derives from the same Latin root as 'entablature': Latin 'tabula', meaning a board or tablet, which passed into Italian as 'tavola' and French as 'table'. The architectural sense arose in Renaissance usage, when Italian terms describing classical building elements entered English. Its exact first attestation in English is uncertain, so no precise date can be stated confidently; related forms include 'entablature' and ultimately words built on Latin 'tabula' such as 'tabular'.
How entablement is actually used
This word is extremely rare and appears only marginally in dictionaries; the standard architectural term is 'entablature'. Verify before using in formal writing.
Easily confused with entablement
Entablature is the established architectural term for the horizontal superstructure of columns supporting a roof, whereas entablement is a much rarer variant form.