Ave Maria
[ah-vey muh-ree-uh]
- (italics) the first two words of the Latin version of a prayer in the Roman Catholic Church, based on the salutation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary and the words of Elizabeth to her.
- a recitation of this prayer.
- the bead or beads on a rosary used to count off each prayer as spoken.
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Origin of Ave Maria
Also called Hail Mary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ave maria
Historical Examples
But as he spoke the bells of the villages around toned forth the Ave-Maria.
Household stories from the Land of HoferR. H. Busk
The village bells sound the Ave-Maria, but the sacred notes arrest her not—the evening prayer is forgotten in the thirst for gold.
Household stories from the Land of HoferR. H. Busk
His body is interred at the Cordeliers, and his heart deposited at the Ave-Maria.
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 (of 3)Isaac D'Israeli
Ave Maria
- another name for Hail Mary
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Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin: hail, Mary!
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
Word Origin and History for ave maria
Ave Maria
modified form of the angelic salutation to the Virgin (Luke i:28) used as a devotional recitation, early 13c., from the opening words ("Ave [Maria] gratia plena").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper