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ritual

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
rit·u·al  (rch-l)
n.
1.
a. The prescribed order of a religious ceremony.
b. The body of ceremonies or rites used in a place of worship.
2.
a. The prescribed form of conducting a formal secular ceremony: the ritual of an inauguration.
b. The body of ceremonies used by a fraternal organization.
3. A book of rites or ceremonial forms.
4. rituals
a. A ceremonial act or a series of such acts.
b. The performance of such acts.
5.
a. A detailed method of procedure faithfully or regularly followed: My household chores have become a morning ritual.
b. A state or condition characterized by the presence of established procedure or routine: "Prison was a ritualreenacted daily, year in, year out. Prisoners came and went; generations came and went; and yet the ritual endured" William H. Hallahan.
adj.
1. Associated with or performed according to a rite or ritual: a priest's ritual garments; a ritual sacrifice.
2. Being part of an established routine: a ritual glass of milk before bed.

[From Latin rtulis, of rites, from rtus, rite; see rite.]

ritu·al·ly adv.

ritual
Noun
1. a religious or other ceremony involving a series of fixed actions performed in a certain order
2. these ceremonies collectively: people need ritual
3. regular repeated action or behaviour
4. stereotyped activity or behaviour
Adjective
of or like rituals
ritually adv
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.ritualritual - any customary observance or practice
custom, usage, usance - accepted or habitual practice
ceremonial dance, ritual dance, ritual dancing - a dance that is part of a religious ritual
betrothal, espousal - the act of becoming betrothed or engaged
marriage ceremony, wedding, marriage - the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony; "their marriage was conducted in the chapel"
rite of passage - a ritual performed in some cultures at times when an individual changes status (as from adolescence to adulthood)
2.ritual - the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies
ablution - the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
practice, pattern - a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
solemnisation, solemnization, celebration - the public performance of a sacrament or solemn ceremony with all appropriate ritual; "the celebration of marriage"
Communion, Holy Communion, manduction, sacramental manduction - the act of participating in the celebration of the Eucharist; "the governor took Communion with the rest of the congregation"
3.ritual - stereotyped behavior
habit, use - (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it"
Adj.1.ritual - of or relating to or characteristic of religious rituals; "ritual killing"
2.ritual - of or relating to or employed in social rites or rituals; "a ritual dance of Haiti"; "sedate little colonial tribe with its ritual tea parties"- Nadine Gordimer

ritual
Translations
Spanish ritual [ˈrɪtjuəl] adjritual
nritual m; rito

French ritual [ˈrɪtjuəl] adjrituel(le)
nrituel m

German ritual [ˈrɪtjuəl] adj (law, murder) → Ritual-;
(dance) → rituell
nRitual nt

Italian ritual [ˈrɪtjuəl] adj, nrituale m

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"He sends the Fire that kills," said he, in his deep voice, repeating part of the Ritual.
Nothing about his betrothed pleased him more than her resolute determination to carry to its utmost limit that ritual of ignoring the "unpleasant" in which they had both been brought up.
He had made a ritual of the kisses he gave her when he bade her good-night; first he kissed the palms of her hands (how thin the fingers were, the nails were beautiful, for she spent much time in manicuring them,) then he kissed her closed eyes, first the right one and then the left, and at last he kissed her lips.
 
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