monstrance

[ mon-struhns ]

nounRoman Catholic Church.
  1. a receptacle in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration.

Origin of monstrance

1
1250–1300; Middle English <Medieval Latin mōnstrantia, equivalent to mōnstr(āre) to show (see muster) + -antia-ance

Words Nearby monstrance

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How to use monstrance in a sentence

  • He places it in the monstrance and shows it to the people, who during this ceremony kneel, bow, pray and believe.

  • The priest, who had descended from the altar, held the little monstrance; the girls' procession was moving before him.

    En Route | J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans
  • Another vessel was the monstrance, in which the Blessed Sacrament was carried in procession, and exposed on the altar.

    English Villages | P. H. Ditchfield
  • This monstrance is covered also with jewels of great value which almost conceal it, the gifts of royal personages.

  • When the slanting sun fell upon him in front, the monstrance itself looked like another sun.

British Dictionary definitions for monstrance

monstrance

/ (ˈmɒnstrəns) /


noun
  1. RC Church a receptacle, usually of gold or silver, with a transparent container in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration

Origin of monstrance

1
C16: from Medieval Latin mōnstrantia, from Latin mōnstrāre to show

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012