bema

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be·ma

(bē′mə)

n. pl. be·ma·ta (-mə-tə)

1. Judaism The platform from which services are conducted in a synagogue. Also called almemar.

2. Eastern Orthodox Church The area of a church in which the altar is located; the sanctuary.

[Ultimately from Greek bēma, step, platform; see g^wā- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bema

(ˈbiːmə) ,

bimah

bima

1. (Historical Terms) the speaker's platform in the assembly in ancient Athens

2. (Eastern Church (Greek & Russian Orthodox)) Eastern Orthodox Church a raised area surrounding the altar in a church; the sanctuary

3. (Judaism) Judaism another word for almemar

[C17: via Late Latin, from Greek bēma, from bainein to go]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

be•ma

(ˈbi mə)

n., pl. -ma•ta (-mə tə) -mas.

1. the enclosed space around the altar in an Eastern church.

2. Also, bimah. a platform in a synagogue for the table used when reading from the Torah.

[1675–85; < Greek bêma step, platform =bē-, variant s. of baínein to step, go + -ma n. suffix of result; (definition 3) (< Yiddish bime) < Hebrew bīmāh < Greek]

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Noun

bema - area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing

chancel, sanctuary

area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided plenty of room for servants"

choir - the area occupied by singers; the part of the chancel between sanctuary and nave

church building, church - a place for public (especially Christian) worship; "the church was empty"