Tall, pointed structures that rise from buildings, especially church towers; also a spiraling or upward-curving shape.
From Old English 'spir' and Proto-Germanic roots related to 'spike,' meaning a sharp, pointed thing. Spires were essential to medieval cathedral architecture, both for practical (bells) and symbolic (reaching toward heaven) reasons.
Church spires were medieval skyscrapers—they were often the tallest structures in any city and served as symbols of spiritual aspiration, literally pointing toward heaven, which is why cities that demolished their spires during wars felt the psychological impact was as damaging as the physical destruction.
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