Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A ceremony in which the actions and wording follow a prescribed form and order.
- noun The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship or by an organization.
- noun A book of rites or ceremonial forms.
- noun A set of actions that are conducted routinely in the same manner.
- noun Zoology A set of actions that an animal performs in a fixed sequence, often as a means of communication.
- adjective Associated with or performed according to a rite or ritual.
- adjective Being part of an established routine.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Pertaining to, consisting of, or prescribing a rite or rites.
- noun A book containing the rites or ordinances of a church or of any special service.
- noun A prescribed manner of performing religious worship or other devotional service in any given ecclesiastical or other organization.
- noun The external form prescribed for religious or other devotional services.
- noun Any ceremonial form or custom of procedure.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A prescribed form of performing divine service in a particular church or communion.
- noun Hence, the code of ceremonies observed by an organization.
- noun A book containing the rites to be observed.
- adjective Of or pertaining to rites or ritual
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Related to a
rite or repeated set of actions. - noun
rite ; a repeated set of actions
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun stereotyped behavior
- adjective of or relating to or characteristic of religious rituals
- adjective of or relating to or employed in social rites or rituals
- noun any customary observance or practice
- noun the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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The ritual -- that's what it was, it was a * ritual* -- the ritual had the feel of something worn smooth with countless repetitions.
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town Cory Doctorow
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As she says in her book,"The Joy of Ritual," "To some, the word ritual evokes a vision of frenzied, naked savages beating tom-toms as they dance around a blazing fire..."
Jennifer La Lima-Ortmuller: Vision 2011: Presence And Connectedness Through Ritual Jennifer La Lima-Ortmuller 2011
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As she says in her book,"The Joy of Ritual," "To some, the word ritual evokes a vision of frenzied, naked savages beating tom-toms as they dance around a blazing fire..."
Jennifer La Lima-Ortmuller: Vision 2011: Presence And Connectedness Through Ritual Jennifer La Lima-Ortmuller 2011
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In fact, the word ritual is often tied to spiritual practices—things that we believe touch our soul.
The Daily Carrot Principle Adrian Gostick 2010
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In fact, the word ritual is often tied to spiritual practices—things that we believe touch our soul.
The Daily Carrot Principle Adrian Gostick 2010
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A PETA spokesman says the ritual is abusive and unnecessary.
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A PETA spokesman says the ritual is abusive and unnecessary.
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In other words, a ritual is a kinaesthetic activity.
Why VARK leaves me in the DARK « We Don't Count Your Own Visits To Your Blog 2006
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Although the ritual is a bit more extensive, those are the most necessary words to be used (especially in cases of emergency baptisms).
Leavetaking of the Feast of the Theophany Francis 2006
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Although the ritual is a bit more extensive, those are the most necessary words to be used (especially in cases of emergency baptisms).
Archive 2006-01-01 Francis 2006
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