offertory
offertory
Definition
of·fer·tory (ôf′ər tôr′ē)
noun pl. -·ries
- the part of a Eucharistic service in which the bread and wine, before being consecrated, are offered to God
- the prayers said then
- a hymn or musical composition used then
- the part of a church service during which money offerings are collected from the congregation
- 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.
Browse dictionary entries near offertory
- offering memorandum
- offering circular
- offering
- offered load
- offer up
- offer of proof
- offer
- offensive
- offenseless
- offense
