novena

[noh-vee-nuh, nuh-]

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

plural

novenae, novenas 

1. a devotion consisting of nine separate days of prayers or services.

novena

/ nəʊˈviːnə /

noun

1. RC Church a devotion consisting of prayers or services on nine consecutive days

Word History and Origins

Origin of novena¹

1850–55; < Medieval Latin novēna, noun use of feminine singular of Latin novēnus nine each

Word History and Origins

Origin of novena¹

C19: from Medieval Latin, from Latin novem nine

Example Sentences

The archdiocese has long held special masses and novenas — nine days of prayers — on behalf of immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

But she thought of this daily ritual as a kind of novena: a prayer repeated for nine days to appeal a misfortune or request a special favor.

From New York Times

I was raised Catholic, and made to navigate the weirdness of First Holy Communion, novenas and trips to the shrine at Knock.

From New York Times

They also plan on incorporating novenas, which involves nine consecutive nights of prayer and singing villancicos.

From New York Times

Those same officials might be saying quiet novenas that it's not one of the others hovering in the rarefied air of top-10 status after the opening round - the dreaded LIV set.

From BBC