capitol
capitol Lexical Profile
capitol Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A building in which a state legislative body meets, or the main building in Washington, D.C. (usually capitalized) where the United States Congress convenes.
"The lawmakers gathered on the steps of the state capitol to announce the new education bill."
The ancient temple of Jupiter in Rome, situated on the Capitoline Hill, or a similar citadel and temple complex in a Roman colony.
"Archaeologists uncovered the stone foundations of the ancient Roman capitol at the center of the forum."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'capitol' with its homophone 'capital': 'capitol' (with an 'o') refers exclusively to a specific legislative building (easy to remember because the dome of a capitol is shaped like an 'o'), whereas 'capital' (with an 'a') refers to a city serving as a seat of government, financial wealth, or an uppercase letter.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French Capitole and directly from Latin Capitolium, the great temple dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome, traditionally derived from caput ('head').