Word Study
parvis
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun parvis has 1 sense
CIDE DICTIONARY
parvis, n. [F. parvis, fr. LL. paravisus, fr. L. paradisus. See Paradise.].
A court of entrance to, or an inclosed space before, a church; hence, a church porch; -- sometimes formerly used as place of meeting, as for lawyers. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
parvis, n. (also parvise)
1 an enclosed area in front of a cathedral, church, etc.
2 a room over a church porch.
1 an enclosed area in front of a cathedral, church, etc.
2 a room over a church porch.
Etymology
ME f. OF parvis ult. f. LL paradisus PARADISE, a court in front of St Peter's, Rome
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