parvis

Meaning

1. An enclosed courtyard in front of a building, especially a cathedral.
2. A portico surrounding such a space.
3. The porch of a church, or the room over it.

Synonyms

church-porch

colonnade

peristyle

porch

vestibule

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɑː.vɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: parvis

In summary

From Middle English parvis, parvise, parvys, borrowed from Old French parvis, parevis, from Latin paradīsus, from Ancient Greek παράδεισος (parádeisos), ultimately from Proto-Iranian *paridayjah. Used in the Middle Ages to describe the court in front of St Peter's in Rome, and later similar courts in front of other churches. Doublet of paradise.