French word

calice

Pronunciation

IPA/kalis/

Meaning

  • masculine noungoblet

Example

Il a levé le calice pour porter un toast.

He raised the goblet to make a toast.

Illustration for calice (goblet)

More examples

Dans la légende, le calice est un objet sacré.

In the legend, the chalice is a sacred object.

Core concept

A decorated, heavy stemmed cup raised in a ceremony, from a church rite to a literary toast.

Similar words

verre: A transparent vessel for drinking beverages directly from the rim.
tasse: A handled ceramic container for coffee or tea.
gobelet: A handleless disposable drinking container made of plastic or paper.
coupe: A shallow, wide stemmed vessel for champagne or desserts.

Definition in French

Coupe cérémonielle, souvent richement décorée, employée dans les rites religieux (par exemple pour l'Eucharistie) ou évoquée en littérature.

Word origin

French calice comes from Latin calix, calicis, the Latin term for a cup and especially a ritual vessel.

Usage tips

  • Calice is masculine, so standard forms include un calice, le calice, and ce calice.

Other meanings

  • chalicenoun
  • calyxnoun

Word lists with this word