Communion table (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: ALTAR (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Communion table" with 5 letters is "ALTAR".Altar is a table or flat surface used in religious ceremonies, especially for communion in Christian worship, where offerings and sacrifices are placed. It serves as the central focus in many places of worship, symbolizing a sacred space for rituals and spiritual acts.
Why "Altar" Fits
The clue asks for a single word (5 letters) meaning "communion table." The answer, ALTAR, fits perfectly:
- Communion table: Altar is the formal term for the table or structure in a church where the Eucharist (communion) is celebrated—exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With five letters, altar fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word identifies the sacred central structure used for religious rituals, offerings, and especially the Christian sacrament of communion.
Altar is an ancient word, essential to many rituals across different faiths:
Origin and usage:
- From Latin altare, meaning "high place" or "elevation," originally referring to an elevated platform for sacrifice in ancient religions.
- In Christianity, the altar is the key piece of church furniture, often placed at the front of the sanctuary or chancel.
Ritual and symbolism:
- The altar is used for the consecration of bread and wine; it represents a meeting point between the spiritual and the earthly.
- Often adorned with candles, cloth, flowers, and sacred vessels.
- Other faiths use altars for offerings, incense, or prayers, but the crossword clue's reference to "communion table" makes the Christian sense dominant.
Examples:
- “The priest placed the chalice on the altar.”
- “Worshipers gathered at the altar for communion.”
- “Altar rails separated the chancel from the nave.”
In quick crosswords like “Communion table (5),” clues for church furniture or places of ritual seek classic, unambiguous answers:
Definition: "Communion table" is a well-known synonym for altar in Christian practice.
Clue type: Pure definition, relying on common religious vocabulary.
Solving approach:
- Seek five-letter nouns for sacred structures in churches; altar stands out for this specific use.
- Related options (pew, apse, nave) refer to different church furniture or architecture, but not the communion table.
Crossword pattern: Ecclesiastical terms—altar, nave, apse, chancel—often appear due to their strong connections to architecture and ceremony.
