viaticum

American  

[vahy-at-i-kuhm, vee-] / vaɪˈæt ɪ kəm, vi- /

noun

• viatica,
  plural
• viaticums
  plural

1. Ecclesiastical. the Eucharist or Communion as given to a person dying or in danger of death.

2. (among the ancient Romans) a provision or allowance for traveling, originally of transportation and supplies, later of money, made to officials on public missions.

3. money or necessities for any journey.

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viaticum British  

/ vaɪˈætɪkəm /

noun

1. Christianity Holy Communion as administered to a person dying or in danger of death

2. rare provisions or a travel allowance for a journey

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• viatica
  plural
• viaticums
  plural

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

viaticum

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

The archbishop said mass in his chamber, heard his confession, gave him the viaticum and extreme unction, and promised to pay all his debts, and to provide for all his poor.

From The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints January, February, March by Alban Butler

He was confessed, and received the sacred viaticum.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Emma Helen Blair

On the 6th of December he fell ill; on the 8th, the President of St. John's College, in presence of the Fathers and Religious of the Society, administered the viaticum.

From The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 3, February, 1851 by Various

They had lost their last cent, and the directors of the establishment, who generously send ruined gamblers back to their respective countries, had handed over the viaticum to them for their return.

From The Enemies of Women (Los enemigos de la mujer) by Vicente Blasco Ib??ez

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