Systyle

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. An architectural style in which columns are evenly spaced across the façade of a building
2. Describing a building or structure whose front features columns positioned at uniform intervals
3. A construction design characterized by regularly distributed columns along the exterior face

Etymology: In ancient Greek architecture, a "systylos" described a building whose columns stood close together, so the spacing itself was the defining feature. The Greek prefix "sún" meant "with" or "together", and "stûlos" meant "column", so the compound literally pictured columns standing alongside one another. Architects used the term to classify temple fronts by how the columns were arranged, much as other terms classified them by the number of columns across the facade. English took the word from Latin "systylos", which had itself been borrowed from the Greek. Its close relative in French, "systyle", reached the language through the same classical channel. Because the English form looks like "sy-" plus "-style", it is easy to assume it has something to do with fashion or design, but the "-style" element is really the Greek "stûlos" meaning column, not the modern sense of style.

Synonyms: columniated