lectern

noun

lec·tern ˈlek-tərn

: a stand used to support a book or script in a convenient position for a standing reader or speaker

especially : one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service

Examples of lectern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Near the end of his remarks, Biden brought to the lectern Miriam Butorin, the young daughter of Kurmasheva, the Russian-American journalist who was among those prisoners freed. —

Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2024 Accompanied by the school’s fight song, new UCLA football coach DeShaun Foster walked across a stage inside Lucas Oil Stadium on Wednesday morning to take his spot behind a lectern … only to stumble his way through the next minute. —

Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024 But on Wednesday, Green walked onto the stage of a Howard University auditorium in a graduation cap, and took the lectern to address the 34 other graduates of D.C.’s first peer case management program seated before her. —

Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 24 July 2024 Sharma led me past a counter with a tap for cold brew and into a room filled with chairs and a lectern. —

Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for lectern

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lectern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lettorne, from Anglo-French leitrun, from Medieval Latin lectrinum, from Late Latin lectrum, from Latin legere to read — more at legend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of lectern was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century