monstrance

[mon-struh ns]

noun Roman Catholic Church.

a receptacle in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration.

Origin of monstrance

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

Also called ostensorium, ostensory.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for monstrance

Historical Examples of monstrance

She held him out proudly in her arms, as if he were monstrance and she priest.
Little Novels of Italy
Maurice Henry Hewlett
The archbishop fell to the ground, as did the lunette of the monstrance.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898
Various
You are thinking of the monstrance which should have been of gold but was of silver?
Plays by August Strindberg, Third Series
August Strindberg
He walked up to the little altar to place the monstrance on it.
The Forest Farm
Peter Rosegger
Then he bowed low to the monstrance on the altar, and lower still to the figure of the Virgin.
The Serf
Guy Thorne

British Dictionary definitions for monstrance

monstrance

noun

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

Word Origin for monstrance

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