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rite Definition

rite (rīt)

noun

  1. a ceremonial or formal, solemn act, observance, or procedure in accordance with prescribed rule or custom, as in religious use marriage rites
  2. any formal, customary observance, practice, or procedure the rites of courtship
    1. a prescribed form or particular system of ceremonial procedure, religious or otherwise; ritual the Scottish rite of Freemasonry
    2. liturgy; esp., any of the historical forms of the Eucharistic service the Byzantine rite
  3. a division of (Eastern and Western) churches according to the liturgy used

Etymology: ME < L ritus < IE *rēi-, var. of base *ar-, to join, fit > art, read, rate, arithmetic

rite Synonyms

rite

n.

ceremony, observance, service, ritual; see ceremony 2, custom 2, sacrament 1. See syn. study at ceremony.

rite Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • passage: Well, Sean sailed through his rite of passage barely batting an eyelid.
  • baptism: A rite of initiation Baptism is the normal way of entry into the church.

Converse of object

  • administer: He had died administering the last rites to people fatally injured.
  • perform: They are coming from every corner of the globe to perform the sacred rites of Hajj.
  • practice: He does not wish to live with his kinsmen, he says, for they practice pagan rites.
  • observe: Whilst working in Sri Lanka she was able to observe rites and ceremonies among women to which men would not have been allowed access.

Adjective modifier

  • funerary: Sadly, it is far from clear what the standard funerary rite was for Britain at this time.
  • penitential: Litanies The Penitential Rite; Prayer of the Faithful; the Lamb of God.
  • funeral: The people were all very glad to be able to perform some of the proper funeral rites.
  • sacred: They are coming from every corner of the globe to perform the sacred rites of Hajj.
  • sacrificial: Having regard to circles wherein sacrificial rites were observed, a slab of stone was a conspicuous object in that dread ceremonial.

Noun used with modifier

  • initiation: The war provided an initiation rite for young men.
  • pagan: Arthur noted the role of alcohol in pagan rites.
  • Sarum: The Sarum Rite was the major English rite of the Middle Ages.
  • fertility: Perhaps less of an ancient fertility rite than previously believed.
  • burial: This was a late Roman burial rite to ensure the dead did not return to haunt the living.
  • purification: Indeed, the Biblical temples were not even used for temple marriage, but for purification rites, and animal sacrifices.
rite Quotes

The simple dignity of a child drinking a bowl of milk embodies the fascination of an ancient rite.

—Sandburg, Carl

Tantum ergo sacramentum Veneremur cernui; Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui. Therefore we, before him bending, Thisgreat Sacrament revere; Types and shadows have their ending, For the newer rite is here.

—Aquinas, StThomas

Avictory should be celebrated with the funeral rite.

—Lao-Tzu   6c

Browse dictionary entries near rite

  1. Ritchie, Dennis
  2. ritardando
  3. Ritalin
  4. Rita
  5. rit
  6. ristra
  7. rissole
  8. rissolé
  9. risqué
  10. risotto
  1. rite of passage
  2. ritornello
  3. ritual
  4. ritualism
  5. ritualistic
  6. ritualize
  7. ritzy
  8. riv.
  9. rivage
  10. rival