compluvium means A space left unroofed over the court of a dwelling in Ancient Rome, through which the rain fell into the impluvium or cistern. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
Why “compluvium” is a great word
COMPLUVIUM — [Noun] An unroofed opening in the roof over the central courtyard of an ancient Roman house, designed to channel rainwater into a basin below. Borrowed from Latin compluvium, from compluere ("to flow together"), from com- ("together") + pluere ("to rain"). First attested in English use in 1832. Unlike the impluvium, which is the sunken marble basin that catches the water, or the atrium, which denotes the entire grand hall and courtyard space, the compluvium is the framed aperture of sky itself. It is the rectangle of shifting light painting the mosaic floor, the angled eaves guiding a silver curtain of rain, and the open eye of the house gazing upward—a deliberate architectural absence that made the heavens a functional part of the home.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin compluvium.
noun
- A space left unroofed over the court of a dwelling in Ancient Rome, through which the rain fell into the impluvium or cistern.“In the centre of the floor of the atrium a portion was sunk for the reception of rain water; this was termed the impluvium; and above it an opening of similar dimensions was left in the ceiling or roof, termed the compluvium.”