viaticum
Americannoun
-
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
To finish its course and complete its work, will humanity ever discover another viaticum that will better renew its courage and its hope?
From Outlines of a Philosophy of Religion based on Psychology and History by Sabatier, Auguste
He said the mass, and paused when he came to the viaticum.
From Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry by Yeats, W. B. (William Butler)
Yet oppression by officials who traversed Greece from time to time and demanded lavish entertainments and presentations in the guise of viaticum or aurum coronarium was not unknown.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 4 "Grasshopper" to "Greek Language" by Various
No; that miniature is not the viaticum for eternity.
From Marie Antoinette and the Downfall of Royalty by Imbert de Saint-Amand, Arthur Léon, baron
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.
