English Dictionary |
VOTARY
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Dictionary entry overview: What does votary mean?
• VOTARY (noun)
The noun VOTARY has 3 senses:
1. one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service
2. a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
3. a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity
Familiarity information: VOTARY used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
One bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Context example:
monasteries of votaries
Hypernyms ("votary" is a kind of...):
religious (a member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Context example:
a votary of Aphrodite
Hypernyms ("votary" is a kind of...):
non-Christian priest; priest (a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies in a non-Christian religion)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "votary"):
vestal virgin ((Roman mythology) one of the virgin priestesses consecrated to the Roman goddess Vesta and to maintaining the sacred fire in her temple)
bacchant ((classical mythology) a priest or votary of Bacchus)
bacchante ((classical mythology) a priestess or votary of Bacchus)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Context example:
the cultured votary of science
Hypernyms ("votary" is a kind of...):
adherent; disciple (someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another)
Context examples
Among the votaries of TERPSICHORE, who disported themselves until Sol gave warning for departure, Wilkins Micawber, Esquire, Junior, and the lovely and accomplished Miss Helena, fourth daughter of Doctor Mell, were particularly remarkable.”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
I burnt for the more active life of the world—for the more exciting toils of a literary career—for the destiny of an artist, author, orator; anything rather than that of a priest: yes, the heart of a politician, of a soldier, of a votary of glory, a lover of renown, a luster after power, beat under my curate's surplice.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Each person at his job is a god." (Albanian proverb)
"Oppose your affection to find rationality." (Arabic proverb)
"Using a cannon to shoot a mosquito." (Dutch proverb)