nave

Definitions

From Latin nāvis (ship). The central hall got its name because its high, ribbed, vaulted ceiling looked like the upturned hull of a ship to medieval eyes.

Why It Means This

Of all nav words, nave hides its ship best. Medieval church-builders looked up at the tall, ribbed vault over the central aisle and saw the inverted hull of a great ship — a fitting symbol for the 'ship of the faithful' carrying souls toward salvation. The name stuck even after the metaphor was forgotten.

Common Collocations

• 1.the cathedral nave大教堂中殿
• 2.central nave中央中殿
• 3.up the nave沿中殿向前

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Sunlight streamed through the windows down the cathedral's long nave.

• 2.

  The choir processed slowly up the nave toward the altar.

Easily Confused

nave vs naive — Despite the similar look, they're unrelated. nave (one syllable, /neɪv/) is a church hall; naive (/naɪˈiːv/, from French) means innocent or unsophisticated. Different sounds, different worlds.