Nave Meaning
/neɪv/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances.
nounThe ground-level middle cavity of a barn.
Sentence Examples
The nave, transept and aisles of the church have marble floors.
The nave is the central part of the church.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wedding guests sat in the ____ of the ancient cathedral.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The long central part of the church where the congregation sits is called the ____.
Word Origin & History
Ultimately from Latin nāvem, singular accusative of nāvis, possibly via a Romance source. Doublet of nef and nau.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer."
— 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"'Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods,
In general synod take away her power;
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven[…]"
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
"Till he faced the slave; / Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, / Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps, / And fix'd his head upon our battlements"
— c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The wedding guests sat in the ____ of the ancient cathedral.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The long central part of the church where the congregation sits is called the ____.