Cruciform
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross.
It is a common description of Christian churches, which are usually, though not exclusively, built with a layout comprising:
- An east end, containing an altar and often with an elaborate, decorated window, through which light will shine in the early part of the day.
- A west end, which sometimes contains a baptismal font, being a large decorated bowl, in which water can be firstly, blessed (dedicated to the use and purposes of God) and then placed upon infant or older believers as a sign of their dedication.
- North and south transepts, being "arms" of the cross and often containing rooms for gathering, small side chapels, or in many cases other necessities such as an organ and toilets.
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[edit] Cruciform sword
The plain sword used by knights, distinctive due to the flat bar used as a guard. The overall shape of the sword when held point down is that of a cross. It is believed this shape was encouraged by the church to remind Knights of their religion. It was however very popular due to the protection it offered to the hand and certain attacks that rely on the cross to trap the blade of the enemy. See sword.
[edit] Cruciform melody
In music, a melody of four pitches that descends by step, skips above the first pitch, then returns to the first pitch by step. Often representative of the Christian cross, such melodies are yet considered to be cruciform in their retrogrades or inversions. Johann Sebastian Bach, whose name in tones is a cruciform melody, employed the device extensively. The subject of the fugue in c-sharp minor (External Shockwave movie) from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book I is cruciform.
[edit] Cruciform tail
Some airplanes use a cruciform tail design, wherein the horizontal stabilizer is positioned mid-way up the vertical stabilizer, forming a cruciform shape when viewed from the front or rear. Some examples are the F-9 Cougar and the F-10 Skyknight.
