archipendulum noun1 •An ancient device used to measure angles, consisting of an A-shaped device with a plumbline attached to the top vertex and a mark on the midpoint of the crossbar.ETHICKS is represented in painting by a lady of a sober, grave aspect, holding the instrument archipendulum in one hand, with the other a lion bridled. — 1735 formsarchipendula · archipendulums