rite

[ rahyt ]
See synonyms for: riterites on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a formal or ceremonial act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use: rites of baptism; sacrificial rites.

  2. a particular form or system of religious or other ceremonial practice: the Roman rite.

  1. (often initial capital letter) a liturgy or liturgical system, especially one of the historical versions of the Eucharistic service: the Anglican Rite.

  2. (sometimes initial capital letter)Eastern Church, Western Church. a division or differentiation of churches based on liturgical practice.

  3. any customary observance or practice: the rite of afternoon tea.

Origin of rite

1
1275–1325; Middle English (<Old French rit(e)) <Latin rītus

synonym study For rite

1. See ceremony.

Other words for rite

Other words from rite

  • riteless, adjective
  • rite·less·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with rite

Words Nearby rite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rite

rite

/ (raɪt) /


noun
  1. a formal act or procedure prescribed or customary in religious ceremonies: fertility rites; the rite of baptism

  2. a particular body of such acts or procedures, esp of a particular Christian Church: the Latin rite

  1. a Christian Church: the Greek rite

Origin of rite

1
C14: from Latin rītus religious ceremony

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