Basilica

baz-il′ik-a, n. among the Romans, a large oblong hall, with double colonnades and a semicircular apse at the end, used for judicial and commercial purposes—many of them were afterwards converted into Christian churches: a magnificent church built after the plan of the ancient basilica.— adj. Basil′ican . [L. basilica , Gr. basilikē ( oikia , a house), belonging to a king, from basileus , a king.]