book of hours

American  

Or Book of Hours

noun

1. a book containing the prescribed order of prayers, readings from Scripture, and rites for the canonical hours.

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book of hours British  

noun

1. (often capitals) a book used esp in monasteries during the Middle Ages that contained the prayers and offices of the canonical hours

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Example Sentences

As she tells it, Marguerite Steed Hoffman fell for a medieval book of hours at once, at the 2010 European Fine Arts Fair in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

From New York Times

Reached at her Dallas home, she said a dealer asked if she wanted to hold a book of hours — an illuminated manuscript used to help laypeople pray — in her hands.

From New York Times

Step inside the world’s most beautiful calendar, as Jason Farago, a critic for The Times, guides you through an invaluable 15th-century book of hours, in which science, religion and art coalesce.

From New York Times

“Transcending Time: The Medieval Book of Hours” Examples of illuminated prayer books and manuscripts from the Getty’s collection will be on view from Aug. 31 through Feb. 20.

From Los Angeles Times

In the Middle Ages, a book of hours contained illustrated prayers, reminding its readers of daily devotions.

From New York Times