Palace Comes From a Hill in Rome
A palace is a grand residence. The name comes from the Palatine Hill, where Roman emperors built theirs.
A palace is the official residence of a monarch or dignitary. The name is a place: Augustus and his successors built on the Palatine Hill in Rome, and *Palatium* became the word for an imperial residence anywhere. From there it spread into every European language, giving *palazzo*, *palais*, *Pfalz* and English *palace*.
- A grand residence. *A royal palace.*
- A grand public building. *A cinema palace.*
- Palatial — like a palace. *A palatial suite.*
- Palatine — relating to a palace. *A count palatine.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | palace | The royal palace. |
| Plural | palaces | Two palaces. |
| Adjective | palatial | Palatial rooms. |
| Related | palatine | A palatine county. |
| Related | paladin | A knightly paladin. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Palace comes from the Palatine Hill.In Rome.
- A paladin was an officer of the palace.Later a chivalric hero.
- The Palace of Westminster is Parliament.Still legally a royal palace.
Words from the Palatine
- Palace — an imperial residence
- Palatial — grand in scale
- Palatine — of the palace, as in a count palatine
- Paladin — originally an officer of the palace
- Pfalz — the German form, giving the Palatinate region
From Old French *palais*, from Latin *palatium*, from the Palatine Hill in Rome where the imperial residences stood.
Why is Parliament called a palace?
Because the Palace of Westminster was a royal residence before it became the seat of Parliament, and legally it remains a royal palace.
What is a paladin?
Originally an officer of the imperial palace, later a term for a knightly champion, especially the twelve associated with Charlemagne.