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† BASILICA

Latin basilica (modern Greek vasiliki) is the romanization of ancient Greek basilikḗ stoá, = royal stoa. Originally a specific type of Roman building with round roofs and 2 rows of columns [basileus = king  +  stoa = a colonnade, portico, or cloisters, thus basilika = royal or grand colonnade.]

Traditionally these buildings were markets, courthouses and promenades in the 1st century BC.  The grandness of style & status of the architectural style was adopted when building 'important' churches and the term then transferred to the religious realm, as a distinguisher of the higher status of some churches, due to the fact that many of high status churches had been built in that architecture style.