Main Entry: ¹cap·i·tal

Pronunciation: \ˈka-pə-t^əl, ˈkap-t^əl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English capitale, from Anglo-French capital, capitel, from Late Latin capitellum small head, top of column, diminutive of Latin capit-, caput head — more at head

Date: 13th century

: the uppermost member of a column or pilaster crowning the shaft and taking the weight of the entablature — see column illustration