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basílica

basilica

noun bah-SEE-lee-kah Rare

Origin: From Latin basilica, a type of Roman public hall later adopted for churches.

Usage Note

Basílica denotes a church with special architectural or honorary status granted by the Pope, distinct from a regular iglesia or catedral. The accent on the first i makes it a proparoxytone (stress on the antepenultimate syllable).

Examples

"La basílica fue construida en el siglo XII."

Natural Translation

The basilica was built in the 12th century.

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