viaticum
Americannoun
-
viatica,
plural
-
viaticums
plural
-
Ecclesiastical. the Eucharist or Communion as given to a person dying or in danger of death.
-
(among the ancient Romans) a provision or allowance for traveling, originally of transportation and supplies, later of money, made to officials on public missions.
-
money or necessities for any journey.
noun
-
Christianity Holy Communion as administered to a person dying or in danger of death
-
rare provisions or a travel allowance for a journey
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of viaticum
1555–65; < Latin viāticum, neuter of viāticus, equivalent to viāt ( us ) (past participle of viāre to travel; see via, -ate 1) + -icus -ic; cf. voyage
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The voice of the poet deepens steadily right up to his viaticum, delivered to the world at war: We live in a camp.
From Time Magazine Archive
It is a procession, going to carry the viaticum, the last sacrament, to a dying person.
From To Cuba and Back by Richard Henry Dana
They are in regard to self-culture what Montaigne calls "the best viaticum for the journey of life."
From Life and Conduct by J. Cameron Lees
These words were intended by him as a viaticum for her, but they were really to be a legacy of love to his favorite child.
From Margaret Fuller (Marchesa Ossoli) by Julia Ward Howe
Mattress and all, he was borne into the sick-room, where he administered the viaticum to the dying woman.
From Seeds of Pine by Janey Canuck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
