aisle
//aɪ̯l//
Forms
- Plural
- aisles
Definitions
1.A wing of a building, notably in a church separated from the nave proper by piers.
- In one of the aisles there was an elaborately carved confessional box and I recognised the village priest in his heavy mountain boots and black cassock as he entered it and drew the dark velvet curtains behind him.
2.A clear path/passage through rows of seating.
3.A clear corridor in a supermarket with shelves on both sides containing goods for sale.
4.Any path through an otherwise obstructed space.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4847
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English ele, from Anglo-Norman ele (“wing”) (Modern French aile), from Latin āla (whence English ala). Further from Latin axis (whence English axis, atelier). Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- cognate with English axle, Ancient Greek ἄξων (áxōn) (whence English axo-, axon).