great hall
Castle's central room
A great hall is the main room of a medieval castle, manor house, or palace—a large open space serving as the center of household life.
Lords held court, entertained guests, and dined there; servants often slept on the floor at night.
The term now applies to any imposing central hall in a large building: The university's great hall hosts graduation ceremonies.
Fortified medieval residence
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- tapestriesWoven pictorial fabric art
- heraldryStudy of armorial bearings
throne · banquet · chivalry · knights · lords · ladies · minstrels · jousting
Impressive beauty or scale
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
- splendorImpressive, striking beauty
- majestyImpressive supreme dignity
- palatialLavishly grand and spacious
stately · imposing · grandiose · sumptuous · regal · monumental · resplendent · lofty
Formal celebratory meal
- plattersLarge serving dishes
- gobletsStemmed drinking vessels
- meadHoney-fermented alcoholic drink
- roastDry-heat cooking method
merriment · feasting · trenchers · ale · venison · revelry · courses · toast
External wall supports
- clerestoryElevated fenestrated church wall
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- daisRaised speaker's platform
- fireplaceIndoor structure for burning
flagstones · rafters · arches · pillars · anteroom
Higher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- OxfordHistoric English university town
- CambridgeUniversity city, two countries
- diningEating a meal
Hogwarts · portraits · faculty · students · gowns · ceremony · graduation · tradition
Constructing from components
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
- receptionAct of receiving guests
congregation · forum · convention · plenary · audience · ceremony · address · proclamation
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- keepRetain or fortified tower
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- tapestriesWoven pictorial fabric art
heraldry · throne · banquet · chivalry · knights · lords · ladies · minstrels · jousting · squires
magnificence
Impressive beauty or scale
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
- splendorImpressive, striking beauty
- majestyImpressive supreme dignity
palatial · stately · imposing · grandiose · sumptuous · regal · monumental · resplendent · lofty · pomp
banquet
Formal celebratory meal
roast · merriment · feasting · trenchers · ale · venison · revelry · courses · toast · carving
buttresses
External wall supports
- clerestoryElevated fenestrated church wall
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- daisRaised speaker's platform
fireplace · flagstones · rafters · arches · pillars · anteroom
university
Higher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- OxfordHistoric English university town
- CambridgeUniversity city, two countries
Hogwarts · dining · portraits · faculty · students · gowns · ceremony · graduation · tradition · headmaster
assembly
Constructing from components
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- conferenceOrganized meeting for discussion
reception · congregation · forum · convention · plenary · audience · ceremony · address · proclamation · council
- castle restorationbattlements, crenellations, arrow slits, portcullis, gatehouse
- grand hallsthrone room, ballroom, state room, audience chamber
- dining rooms
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- campus featureslibrary, libraries, dorm, dorms, dormitory
great hallcloset
Built-in storage chamber
cubbyhole · broom closet · cubicle · cell · small room
great hallbedchamber
Room for sleeping
solar · inner sanctum · private room · boudoir · secret room
great hallservants' quarters
Housing for domestic employees
scullery · cellar · back room · basement · slave quarters