viaticum

American  

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

noun

plural

viatica, viaticums

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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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

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

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 Blair, Emma Helen

Which acts and censures make manifest, that our Kirk abhorred whatsoever fostered the opinion of the necessitie of Baptisme, and giving of the Sacrament, as a viaticum.

From The Acts Of The General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

As for the judgment of our own divines, Calviniani, saith Balduine,440 morem illum quo eucharastia ad aegrotos tanquam viaticum defertur improbant, eamque non nisi in coetibus publicis usurpendam censent.

From The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2) by Gillespie, George

She still breathed, but with difficulty, and speech had failed her; but her lips could still receive the sacred viaticum and smile.

From The Hour Will Come: Volumes I and II A Tale of an Alpine Cloister by Hillern, Wilhelmine von