temple

¹tem·ple

noun \ˈtem-pəl\

Definition of TEMPLE

1

: a building for religious practice: as a often capitalized : either of two successive national sanctuaries in ancient Jerusalem b : a building for Mormon sacred ordinances c : the house of worship of Reform and some Conservative Jewish congregations

2

: a local lodge of any of various fraternal orders; also : the building housing it

3

: a place devoted to a special purpose <a temple of cuisine>

— tem·pled \-pəld\ adjective

Origin of TEMPLE

Middle English, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English tempel & Anglo-French temple, both from Latin templum space marked out for observation of auguries, temple, small timber; probably akin to Greek temenos sacred precinct, temnein to cut — more at tome

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Jewish Religion Terms

Talmud, Zion, challah, dybbuk, kosher, tabernacle, tetragrammaton, yarmulke