TEMPLE, a general name for places of public worship, whether Pagan, Christian, or otherwise. But the word, in a restrained sense, is used to denote the places or edifices in which the Pagans offered sacrifice to their false gods. The word is formed from the Latin templum, which some derive from the Greek temnos, signifying the same thing; and others from temno, abscindo, "I cut off, I separate," in regard a temple is a place separated from common uses. Others derive it from the old Latin word templare, "to contemplate." It is certain, the ancient augurs gave the name templa to those parts of the heavens which they marked out for the observation of the flight of birds.—Their formula was this: Templa tesqua sunt. See AUGUR.