(Anglo-Saxon: spir, a stalk)
A tapering construction crowning a steeple or tower or surmounting a building. On the Continent the steeple and spire were merged into one, while in England a separate structure was preserved. It belongs to Pointed architecture, and has been fully developed in Gothic buildings. Renaissance spires are merely steeples terminating in a point.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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