Archit. Also 7 epistal. [ad. L. epistȳlium, Gr. ἐπιστύλιον, f. ἐπί upon + στύλος pillar.] = ARCHITRAVE.
[1563. Shute, Archit., C j b. Vpon the Capitall shalbe layde or set Epistilium.
a. 1623. W. Pemble, Exp. Zachary (1629), 160. Pillars of Stone, whose Epistylia or Chapiters were wrought about in fashion of a Crowne.
1721–1800. in Bailey.]
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 287. The walls and pauement of polished marble … with pillars, and Epistals of like workmanship.
1860. Lewin, Jerusalem, 224. Which would yield about 23 feet for … each epistyle measured from the centres of the columns.
Hence Epistylar a., belonging to the epistyle.
1849–50. Weale, Dict. Terms, s.v. Epistylium, Epistylar arcuation is the system in which columns support arches instead of horizontal architraves and entablatures.
