Romanesque

adjective

Ro·​man·​esque ˌrō-mə-ˈnesk How to pronounce Romanesque (audio)
: of or relating to a style of architecture developed in Italy and western Europe between the Roman and the Gothic styles and characterized in its development after 1000 by the use of the round arch and vault, substitution of piers for columns, decorative use of arcades, and profuse ornament
Romanesque noun

Examples of Romanesque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eight centuries ago, the house was a Romanesque stone church. Mark Schapiro, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Oct. 2024 The iconic landmark, with its Romanesque architectural style, beautiful stained glass and intricate carvings, was also the site of Joe DiMaggio’s wedding photos with Marilyn Monroe in 1954. R29 Team, refinery29.com, 14 Oct. 2024 Hundreds of pilgrims hugged, cried, and drank red wine from scallop shells on the granite steps of the soaring Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a Romanesque complex that dates back to 1075 and is said to contain the remains of Saint James, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. Jessica Vincent, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2024 With its striking red brick facade and Victorian Romanesque architecture, the 1890s-era Tilsner Artist Lofts in St. Paul’s Lowertown has drawn a community of creative residents, many of them seniors. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 29 May 2024 Our son met his teacher at the Claudio Monteverdi Institute while the rest of us strolled to the Piazza del Comune, where a Romanesque cathedral built between the 12th and 14th centuries soared over an expanse of cobblestones. Julie Orringer, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2024 Nickelson signs dominated amid the historic mansions lining Fairfield Avenue, built by captains of industry in the early 20th century in a mix of styles from Beaux-Arts to Gothic, Romanesque to Tudor. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024 Her face, with its pinhole eyes and rudimentary modeling, reveals the recent influence on Picasso of ancient Iberian sculptures and Romanesque carvings. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024 Nearly 92% of the nation—one of the world’s smallest, measuring about 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC—is blanketed in forest, the occasional Romanesque church crowning valleys like a star on a Christmas tree. Lane Nieset, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Romanesque was in 1819

Dictionary Entries Near Romanesque

Cite this Entry

“Romanesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Romanesque. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Romanesque

adjective
Ro·​man·​esque ˌrō-mə-ˈnesk How to pronounce Romanesque (audio)
: relating to or being an old style of architecture (as for churches) coming before Gothic architecture and having round arches, thick heavy walls, and few small windows
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