noun

retable

rih-TAY-buhl

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Retable (noun) means a shelf or table set behind an altar for holding images or sacred objects. Example: “The church's retable was carved with scenes from the life of the saint.”

noun

A shelf or table set behind an altar for holding images or sacred objects.

"The church's retable was carved with scenes from the life of the saint."

"A pair of candlesticks stood on the old stone retable."

"The restorers cleaned centuries of soot from the wooden retable."

How to use retable

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA retable is the shelf or panel behind a church altar that holds religious images.

When to use it

Retable is a specialist term used mainly in discussions of church architecture and furnishings.

Memory tip

Picture it as sitting directly behind the altar table, which is where its name comes from.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

reredos

Common pairings

carved retable altar retable medieval retable wooden retable

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “retable” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The church's _____ was carved with scenes from the life of the saint.

Etymology

Retable was borrowed into English from French retable, which itself goes back to Medieval Latin retrotabulum, a word built from parts meaning behind and table. The sense follows the object's position directly behind the altar.

Origin: French

Rhymes for retable

able fable cable table arable viable liable stable tenable parable affable amiable

See all rhymes for retable →

Frequently asked questions

What does retable mean?

A retable is a shelf or table-like structure set behind an altar, used to display images or holy objects.

Is a retable the same as a reredos?

The two terms are often used interchangeably, since both describe a decorated structure rising behind an altar.

Where would you find a retable?

Retables are found in churches, positioned directly behind the altar.

What is the meaning of retable?

"retable" (noun) means a shelf or table set behind an altar for holding images or sacred objects.