Plural of apse; semicircular or polygonal recesses or projections in buildings, especially in churches at the east end.
From Latin 'apsis' (arch, vault), from Greek 'hapsis' (arch, fastening). The word originally referred to the arched ceiling or vault of a structure.
Medieval architects loved apses because they created dramatic, sacred spaces that echoed voices beautifully—standing in an apse of a cathedral, even a whisper resonates like divine music!
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