cryptoporticus

• cryptoportico

Borrowed from Latin cryptoporticus.

cryptoporticus (plural cryptoporticuses or cryptoportici)

1. (Roman architecture) A vaulted corridor or arcade at, or just below ground level; normally lit by openings in the upper part of the vault. Also a roofed promenade that is enclosed with side walls that have windows or openings instead of columns.
   • 1581, Richard Mulcaster, Positions‎, London: Longmans, Green and Company, published 1888, page 87:

     The close walkes, which were called cryptoporticus were not of choice but of necessitie, when extremitie of weather would not let them walke abroad.

From Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “concealed, hidden”) +‎ -o- +‎ porticus.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kryp.toˈpor.ti.kus/, [krʏpt̪ɔˈpɔrt̪ɪkʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /krip.toˈpor.ti.kus/, [kript̪oˈpɔrt̪ikus]

cryptoporticus f (genitive cryptoporticūs); fourth declension

1. (architecture) cryptoporticus

Fourth-declension noun.