Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BAS'IL-IC, n. [s as z. Gr. βασιλικη; L. basilica; Gr. βασιλευς, a king.]

Anciently, a public hall or court of judicature, where princes and magistrates sat to administer justice. It was a large hall, with aisles, porticos, tribunes, and tribunals. The bankers also had a part allotted for their residence. These edifices, at first, were the palaces of princes, afterwards courts of justice, and finally converted into churches. Hence basilic now signifies a church, chapel, cathedral, or royal palace. – Encyc. Sp. and It. Dict.