1. Plural of predella; a platform, step, or decorative base at the foot of an altar, or a series of small panels forming the lower part of an altarpiece.
Usage: art history; architecture; typically used in religious or museum contexts

Examples

• The cathedral's altarpiece featured ornate predellas depicting scenes from the lives of saints.
• Medieval artists often painted narrative scenes on the predellas beneath the main religious images.
• The museum's restoration team carefully cleaned the predellas of the Renaissance altar.
• Predellas served both a structural and decorative purpose in Gothic church design.
• The intricate carvings on the predellas showed the skill of the master craftsmen.