DEVOTIONAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does devotional mean? 

• DEVOTIONAL (noun)
  The noun DEVOTIONAL has 1 sense:

1. a short religious service

  Familiarity information: DEVOTIONAL used as a noun is very rare.

• DEVOTIONAL (adjective)
  The adjective DEVOTIONAL has 1 sense:

1. relating to worship

  Familiarity information: DEVOTIONAL used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVOTIONAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A short religious service

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

divine service; religious service; service (the act of public worship following prescribed rules)

• DEVOTIONAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating to worship

Context example:

a devotional exercise

Similar:

pious (having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity)

 Context examples 

If I could have seen my mother alone, I should have gone down on my knees to her and besought her forgiveness; but I saw no one, Miss Murdstone excepted, during the whole time—except at evening prayers in the parlour; to which I was escorted by Miss Murdstone after everybody else was placed; where I was stationed, a young outlaw, all alone by myself near the door; and whence I was solemnly conducted by my jailer, before any one arose from the devotional posture.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was a wet and windy afternoon: Georgiana had fallen asleep on the sofa over the perusal of a novel; Eliza was gone to attend a saint's-day service at the new church—for in matters of religion she was a rigid formalist: no weather ever prevented the punctual discharge of what she considered her devotional duties; fair or foul, she went to church thrice every Sunday, and as often on week-days as there were prayers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)