Library / English Dictionary

RITE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any customary observance or practice

Synonyms:

rite; ritual

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("rite" is a kind of...):

custom; usage; usance (accepted or habitual practice)

Meronyms (parts of "rite"):

ceremonial dance; ritual dance; ritual dancing (a dance that is part of a religious ritual)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rite"):

betrothal; espousal (the act of becoming betrothed or engaged)

marriage; marriage ceremony; wedding (the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony)

rite of passage (a ritual performed in some cultures at times when an individual changes status (as from adolescence to adulthood))

Derivation:

ritual (of or relating to or employed in social rites or rituals)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An established ceremony prescribed by a religion

Example:

the rite of baptism

Synonyms:

religious rite; rite

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("rite" is a kind of...):

religious ceremony; religious ritual (a ceremony having religious meaning)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rite"):

vigil; watch (the rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival))

last rites (rites performed in connection with a death or burial)

orgy (secret rite in the cults of ancient Greek or Roman deities involving singing and dancing and drinking and sexual activity)

circumcision (the act of circumcising performed on males eight days after birth as a Jewish and Muslim religious rite)

liturgy (a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship)

office (a religious rite or service prescribed by ecclesiastical authorities)

Derivation:

ritual (of or relating to or characteristic of religious rituals)

Credits