Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
arc en plein cintre
English translation:
semi-circular arch
Added to glossary by
Carol Gullidge
Jul 29, 2010 14:16
13 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
arc en plein cintre
French to English
Art/Literary
Architecture
description of a Parisian building/Guide to Paris
Le bâtiment verra le jour dans un style néo-classique avec un appareillage en bossage à rainures (portique à colonnes, œil-de-bœuf, ******arc en plein cintre******).
________
This is a guide to Paris aimed at a general public with no presumed prior knowledge of specialist building or construction terms.
The text is generally not too highbrow - and this passage comes from the section on suggested walks around Paris.
If there is a fairly easily/widely-understood architectural term in English without being too-condescendingly lowbrow, that would be ideal.
Any help would be much appreciated - many thanks!
________
This is a guide to Paris aimed at a general public with no presumed prior knowledge of specialist building or construction terms.
The text is generally not too highbrow - and this passage comes from the section on suggested walks around Paris.
If there is a fairly easily/widely-understood architectural term in English without being too-condescendingly lowbrow, that would be ideal.
Any help would be much appreciated - many thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +6 | semi-circular arch |
Christopher Crockett
|
| 3 +1 | full-centred arch (UK) / full-centered arch (US) |
Chris Hall
|
| 4 | round arch(ing) |
kashew
|
Proposed translations
+6
3 mins
Christopher Crockett
Native in English
Specializes in field
M.A., Ph.D. Historian/Art Historian
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
79
Selected
semi-circular arch
As opposed to, say, a "pointed arch" --most often associated with the "Gothic" style of architecture.
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Note added at 5 mins (2010-07-29 14:22:23 GMT)
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Semi-circular arches (or arcs en jplein cintre) are most often associated with the Classical/Neo-Classical building styles, as are your colonnaded porticoes and your "bull's eye" windows.
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Note added at 48 mins (2010-07-29 15:04:51 GMT)
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I have, occasionally, seen "round [-] headed arch" --the "head" in this case referring to the shape of the top of the arch.
But, I still prefer my "semi-circular" option.
Among other things, a "stilted" arch (think "Mozarabic" in Muslim/"Moorish" Spain) is "round-headed," but not semi-circular.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oN5K_WcO5JM/TB4o9jnqTPI/AAAAAAAAF0...
The arches of Neo-Classical buildings in Paris are not "stilted" in such a manner.
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Note added at 5 mins (2010-07-29 14:22:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Semi-circular arches (or arcs en jplein cintre) are most often associated with the Classical/Neo-Classical building styles, as are your colonnaded porticoes and your "bull's eye" windows.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2010-07-29 15:04:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have, occasionally, seen "round [-] headed arch" --the "head" in this case referring to the shape of the top of the arch.
But, I still prefer my "semi-circular" option.
Among other things, a "stilted" arch (think "Mozarabic" in Muslim/"Moorish" Spain) is "round-headed," but not semi-circular.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oN5K_WcO5JM/TB4o9jnqTPI/AAAAAAAAF0...
The arches of Neo-Classical buildings in Paris are not "stilted" in such a manner.
Note from asker:
| many thanks Christopher - also for the added info! |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks so much Christopher and everyone for the invaluable help! This was just what I was hoping for!"
+1
7 mins
Chris Hall
Native in English
219 témoignages et ils ne cessent pas...
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK)
Works in: French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
full-centred arch (UK) / full-centered arch (US)
It literally means "arch in full centering".
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Note added at 25 mins (2010-07-29 14:42:01 GMT)
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Carol - Incidentally, I do not think that this is the right answer. I posted an answer merely to try and be helpful.
I agree that Gilla's suggestions ("round arch" or a "circular arch") seem pretty spot on IMO.
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Note added at 25 mins (2010-07-29 14:42:01 GMT)
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Carol - Incidentally, I do not think that this is the right answer. I posted an answer merely to try and be helpful.
I agree that Gilla's suggestions ("round arch" or a "circular arch") seem pretty spot on IMO.
Note from asker:
| many thanks Chris! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Christopher Crockett
: Literally, yes. But I don't think I've ever seen the term used, in either the U.K. or U.S. Art Historical literature. "Centering" usually refers to something else: the [usually wood] framework used to actually build the arch, round or pointed.
31 mins
|
17 hrs
round arch(ing)
* maybe not a complete arch - just an arch feature.
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Note added at 17 heures (2010-07-30 07:51:12 GMT)
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half-round arch(ing)
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Note added at 17 heures (2010-07-30 07:51:12 GMT)
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half-round arch(ing)
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