monopteros

English

Etymology

From Latin monopteros, from Ancient Greek μονόπτερος (monópteros), from μονο- (mono-, “mono-”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing; circle of columns”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /məˈnɒptəɹəs/

Noun

Monopteros in the park Hain, Bamberg

monopteros (plural monopteroi)

1. (architecture) A classical temple made up of one circle of columns supporting a roof.
   • 2001, WG Sebald, translated by Anthea Bell, Austerlitz, Penguin, published 2011, page 199:

     I leafed through the various boxes and drawers, staring sometimes for minutes on end at a star-shaped vault or diamond frieze, a hermitage, a monopteros or a mausoleum, without knowing what I was looking at or why.