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 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 In addition to the original Victorian Gothic structure by Calvert Vaux and J. Wrey Mould, the AMNH complex is also made up of Romanesque and Neoclassical buildings. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023 Pointed Arches Rather than the rounded arches typical of the earlier Romanesque style, Gothic architecture is known for arches that come to a steep point. Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 14 July 2023 The Boss From Beijing Prato’s Chinatown starts just outside the stone ramparts, narrow lanes and Romanesque cathedral of the city’s historic center. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 12 July 2023 The three-story Romanesque edifice was home to the city’s oldest continuously operating gay bathhouse, a haven for gay men at a time of rampant prejudice. Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2023 The new hotel at 354 W. Jefferson St. will incorporate the ornate Romanesque style turn-of-the-century building that was originally the Gardner School until 1972, when it was then repurposed as the Valparaiso Boys and Girls Club, with a gym later attached. Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2023 Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon king who was later made a saint, had a Romanesque church constructed on the site, beside his palace. Peter Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Romanesque.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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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