HOUSE

(Germ.haus.) A human habitation, or place of abode of a family. Among the eastern nations, and those to the south, houses are flat on the top, with the ascent to the upper story by steps on the outside. As we proceed northward, a declivity of the roof becomes requisite to throw off the rain and snow, which are of greater continuance in higher latitudes. Among the ancient G reeks, Romans, and Jews, the houses usually enclosed a quadrangular area or court, open to the sky. This part of the house was by the Romans called the impluvium, or cavcedium, and was provided with channels to carry off the waters into the sewers. Both the Roman and Greek Go 3 [s. 578]