Pedestals

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Bases or structures that raise objects above ground level, frequently utilized in both architectural designs and exhibitions
2. Supports created to hold or elevate different items, often seen in galleries, museums, or public spaces
3. A structure designed to elevate and support statues or other items above the surrounding surface

Etymology: "Pedestals" is the plural of "pedestal," so the history belongs to the singular. The word was borrowed from Middle French "piédestal," which in turn came from Italian "piedistallo," literally "foot stand." That literal sense is the whole design of the object: a base that lifts something off the ground so it can be seen. The Italian compound joins "piede," meaning foot, with a word for a stand or base. The spelling was reshaped along the way. Although the word descends from Italian, its written form was influenced by the Latin "pes" (genitive "pedem"), meaning foot, which is the same root that gives English words like "pedal" and "pedestrian." So the English spelling quietly points back to Rome even though the word reached English through Italian and French.

Synonyms: bases, supports