offertory

[ aw-fer-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, of-er- ]

/ ˈɔ fərˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒf ər- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for offertory on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural of·fer·to·ries.

(sometimes initial capital letter) the offering of the unconsecrated elements that is made to God by the celebrant in a Eucharistic service.

Ecclesiastical.

the verses, anthem, or music said, sung, or played while the offerings of the people are received at a religious service.
that part of a service at which offerings are made.
the offerings themselves.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of offertory

1350–1400; Middle English offertorie<Medieval Latin offertōrium place to which offerings are brought, offering, oblation, equivalent to Latin offer(re) (see offer) + -tōrium-tory²; cf. oblation

OTHER WORDS FROM offertory

of·fer·to·ri·al, adjective

Words nearby offertory

offer, offer document, offering, offering price, offer price, offertory, of few words, man of., off-glide, off-grid, off guard, offhand

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use offertory in a sentence

They gained a precarious living from the offertory, and in no single case was there a dwelling-house.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
There is no music during the offertory in these churches, and this, too, pleases my sense of the fitness of things.
Penelope's Experiences in Scotland|Kate Douglas Wiggin
He sang an Offertory solo, accompanying himself on the harmonium.
My New Curate|P.A. Sheehan
After the offertory, the imperial deacon presented the water to the pontiff.
History of the Great Reformation, Volume IV|J. H. Merle D'Aubign

These pieces, we learn later, were to be an offertory, a graduale and a Tantum ergo.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume III (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer

British Dictionary definitions for offertory

offertory

/ (ˈɒfətərɪ) /

noun plural -tories

the oblation of the bread and wine at the Eucharist

the offerings of the worshippers at this service

the prayers said or sung while the worshippers' offerings are being received

Word Origin for offertory

C14: from Church Latin offertōrium place appointed for offerings, from Latin offerre to offer

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

offertory

Origin of offertory

OTHER WORDS FROM offertory

Words nearby offertory

Words related to offertory

How to use offertory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offertory

Word Origin for offertory