Standard Lemma guide

retable

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /rɪˈteɪbəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪbəl
  • UK: /riːˈteɪbəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /riˈteɪbəl/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonym: reredos (often synonymous)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reredos

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To table again.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Politicians are keen to retable the bill.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French retable, ultimately from Medieval Latin retrotabulum.

From re- + table.

Across languages

Translations

31 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: erretaula — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Catalan: retaule — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Czech: retabulum — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Danish: altertavle — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Dutch: retabel — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Esperanto: retablo — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Finnish: alttarikaappi — table or shelf behind an altar
  • French: retable — table or shelf behind an altar
  • German: Altarretabel — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Greek: ντοσάλε (ntosále) — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Hungarian: retabló — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Irish: clabhar altóra — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Italian: dossale — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Italian: retablo — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Italian: trittico — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Italian: polittico — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Manx: skelloo altaragh — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Norwegian Bokmål: altertavle — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: altartavle — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Polish: nastawa ołtarzowa — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Portuguese: retábulo — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Romanian: retablu — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Russian: рета́бло (retáblo) — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Russian: рета́бль (retáblʹ) — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Slovak: retabulum — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Slovene: retabel — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Spanish: retablo — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Swedish: retabel — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Swedish: altaruppsats — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Walloon: rîtåve — table or shelf behind an altar
  • Walloon: tåve d' åté — table or shelf behind an altar