offertory Hear it!

offertory Definition

of·fer·tory (ôf′ər tôr′ē)

noun pl. -·ries

    1. the part of a Eucharistic service in which the bread and wine, before being consecrated, are offered to God
    2. the prayers said then
    3. a hymn or musical composition used then
    1. the part of a church service during which money offerings are collected from the congregation
    2. the collection itself

Etymology: ME offertorie < ML(Ec) offertorium < LL(Ec), place for offerings < offerre, to offer

offertory Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • procession: An Irish girl dancer led the offertory procession, accompanied by a solo violin.
  • hymn: However, neither do general ' offertory hymns ' .
  • envelope: There are offertory envelopes, with detachable prayer card, in the porch today.
  • collection: Offertory collections developed in the days when people were paid weekly in notes and coins.
  • prayer: But while incidental music during the collection seems fine, to have the offertory prayers made silently by the celebrant seems all wrong.
  • box: Theft from offertory boxes is the most common crime.

Preposition: in

  • church: These ladies would not allow anyone to go before them to the offertory in church.