Pl. -as, rarely -æ. Also 6 (transliterated Greek) basilike, 8 basilika. [a. L. basilica, Gr. βασιλική (sc. οἰκία, στοά), fem. of adjs. basilicus, βασιλικός royal, f. βασιλεύς king.]
1. Anc. Hist. Literally and originally, a royal palace; thence, a large oblong building or hall, with double colonnades and a semicircular apse at the end, used for a court of justice and place of public assembly.
1541. Elyot, Image Govt. (1556), 66. A Basilike, or place where civile controversies were herde and judged.
1741. Middleton, Cicero, I. VI. 468. A Basilica also or grand hall.
1852. Conybeare & H., St. Paul (1862), II. xxvii. 500. The basilicas were buildings of great size, so that a vast multitude of spectators was always present at any trial which excited public interest.
2. A building of the preceding type, used for Christian worship. Originally, a hall of justice handed over by Roman emperors and consecrated for religious use; thence applied to other early churches built on the same plan, and improperly to churches generally. In Rome applied spec. to the seven principal churches founded by Constantine.
1563. Homilies, II. ii. III. (1859), 256. Called Basilicæ, eyther for that the Greeks used to call all great and goodly places Basilicas, or for that the high and everlasting King … was served in them.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 99. There were some Churches … which were not dedicated to any Saint, but had only in general the Name of a Basilika.
1851. Ruskin, Stones Ven., I. i. § 27. An imitation in wood of the Christian Roman churches or basilicas.
1852. Miss Yonge, Cameos (1877), III. xxx. 303. Sending a deputation to do penance at the seven basilicæ.
1874. Parker, Illust. Goth. Archit., II. 276. The application of the name of Basilica to the small burial-chapels in the Catacombs is a mistake.
† 3. The basilic vein: see BASILIC a. 2. Obs.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., II. viii. 105. The basilica or liver veine.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The basilica is one of the veins used in bleeding in the arm.
4. (neut. pl.) = BASILICS, q.v.
