retable

/rɪˈteɪbəl/

//rɪˈteɪbəl// noun

"retable" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“retable” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.

Corpus desk

Index EN-retable · retable · English

retable · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "R" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for retable
PropertyValue
Headwordretable
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/rɪˈteɪbəl/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “retable” in English

retablefalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

retable is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /rɪˈteɪbəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "A table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for retable, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from French retable, ultimately from Medieval Latin retrotabulum. The correct English form is retable, spelled R-E-T-A-B-L-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.

Recorded use

Wiktionary example

These source excerpts show how retable appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Near-synonym: reredos (often synonymous)

Etymology

Borrowed from French retable, ultimately from Medieval Latin retrotabulum.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "retable"?
"retable" is spelled R-E-T-A-B-L-E. The IPA pronunciation is /rɪˈteɪbəl/.
What does "retable" mean?
As a noun, "retable" means: A table or shelf behind an altar, on which are placed images or holy objects.
How do you pronounce "retable"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retable" is /rɪˈteɪbəl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "retable"?
Borrowed from French retable, ultimately from Medieval Latin retrotabulum. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list