in architecture, a concave part or ring of a column, lying above or below the flat member. The French call it le conge d'en bas, or d'en haut; the Italians, cavo di basso, or di sopra; and allo il vivo di basso. The apophyge originally was no more than Apothecary ring, or ferril, at first fixed on the extremities of wooden pillars, to keep them from splitting; which afterwards was imitated in stone.