A large semicircular or polygonal recess in a building, especially at the end of a church where the altar is located.
From Latin apsis, derived from Greek apsis meaning 'arch' or 'vault,' originally from the root meaning 'to fasten' or 'to fit together.' The term was adopted into architectural vocabulary when describing the curved structures of Roman basilicas and later Christian churches.
The apse's curved shape creates an acoustic echo that medieval builders used intentionally—it's like they engineered the building itself to amplify the priest's voice!
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