DIPTYCH

diptych

(noun) a painting or carving (especially an altarpiece) on two panels (usually hinged like a book)

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

diptych (plural diptyches)

A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.

(arts) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets, usually connected by hinges.

A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church.

A catalogue of saints.

Artistically-wrought tablets distributed by consuls, etc. of the later Roman Empire to commemorate their tenure of office; hence transferred to a list of magistrates

• a. a literary work consisting of two contrasting parts (as a narrative telling the same story from two opposing points of view)

• b. any work made up of two matching parts treating complementary or contrasting pictorial phases of one general topic

Hypernyms

• (art): polyptych

Source: Wiktionary

Dip"tych, n. Etym: [L. diptycha, pl., fr. Gr.

1. Anything consisting of two leaves. Especially: (a) (Roman Antiq.) A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within. (b) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected by hinges. See Triptych.

2. A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of the church; a catalogue of saints.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition