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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Roman Catholic Church A receptacle in which the host is held. Also called ostensorium.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In the Roman Catholic Church, originally, any receptacle in which sacred relics were held up to view; after the fourteenth century, restricted to the transparent or glass-faced shrine in which the consecrated host is presented for the adoration of the people, either while being carried in procession or when exposed on the altar. It is placed in a stand, generally made of precious metal, and sometimes richly jeweled. See lunette, 11. Also called expositorium, ostensory, remonstrance, and theotheca.

Wiktionary

  1. n. An ornamental, often precious receptacle, either open or with a transparent cover, in which the consecrated host is placed for veneration.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. (R. C. Ch.) A transparent pyx, in which the consecrated host is exposed to view.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. proof by a process of argument or a series of proposition proving an asserted conclusion
  2. n. (Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration

Etymologies

  1. Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin mōnstrantia, from Latin mōnstrāns, mōnstrant-, present participle of mōnstrāre, to show, from mōnstrum, portent, monster; see monster. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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hypernyms (2)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. proof
  1. vessel

same context (4)

Words that are found in similar contexts

  1. frequentation
  1. indissolubility
  1. torc
  1. oldie

reverse dictionary (8)

Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. theotheca
  1. ostensoir
  1. ostensorium
  1. ostensory
  1. expositorium
  1. remonstrance
  1. humeral veil
  1. lunette

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  • fbharjo ourstrance Mar 12, 2013

  • reesetee See also: ostensorium. Dec 7, 2007

  • reesetee Depending on what parish you find yourself in, some of them actually are a bit monstrous. ;-> Feb 16, 2007

  • chained_bear In Catholic school many of us enjoyed provoking the sisters by mispronouncing the monstrance, the great gold thing that holds the host, as "the monstrous." Yes, many of us were a bit evil. Feb 16, 2007

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‘monstrance’ has been looked up 5645 times, loved by 2 people, added to 32 lists, commented on 4 times, and has a Scrabble score of 14.