Architecture Glossary

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Eaves – The under-part of a sloping roof overhanging a wall.

Echinus – A convex moulding below the Abacus of a Doric Capital. Also the moulding, covered with Egg and Dart, under cushion of a Ionic capital.

Egg and dart or egg and tongue – An ovolo moulding decorated with a pattern based on alternate eggs and arrow-heads.

Embrasure castle

Embrasure – A recess for a windows, door, etc., or a small opening in the wall or parapet of a fortified building, usually splayed on the inside.

Enfilade – The French system of aligning internal doors in a sequence so that a vista is obtained through a series of rooms when all the doors are open. They are usually placed close to the windows. The arrangement was introduced c. 1650 and became a feature of Baroque palace planning.

Entablature – The upper part of an Order, consisting of architrave, frieze and cornice.

Entasis – The very slight convex curve used on Greek and later columns to correct the optical illusion of concavity which would result if the sides were straight. Also used on spires and other structures for the same reason.

Eustyle – With an arrangement of columns two and a quarter diameters apart.

Exedra of Herodes Atticus

Exedra – In classical architecture, a semicircular or rectangular recess with raised seats; also, more loosely, any apse or niche or the apsidal end of a room or a room opening full width into a larger, covered or uncovered space.

Extrados – The outer curved face of an arch or vault.

Architecture Glossary

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