viaticum
Americannoun
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Ecclesiastical. the Eucharist or Communion as given to a person dying or in danger of death.
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(among the ancient Romans) a provision or allowance for traveling, originally of transportation and supplies, later of money, made to officials on public missions.
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money or necessities for any journey.
noun
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Christianity Holy Communion as administered to a person dying or in danger of death
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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
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 Howe, Julia Ward
The priests had the power of forcing their way into the dying man's house, where they presented themselves at his bedside, and offered him conversion and the viaticum.
From The Huguenots in France by Smiles, Samuel
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)
She gave, however, clear signs of intelligence, and received the viaticum, as well as the last unction.
From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.
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.
