Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: RELIGION

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: ritus

rite

 noun
     
rite [countable]
1RR a ceremony that is always performed in the same way, usually for religious purposes [↪ ritual]:
funeral rites
ancient fertility rites
These traditional rites are performed only by the women of the village.
2

rite of passage

SSY a special ceremony or action that is a sign of a new stage in someone's life, especially when a boy starts to become a man [↪ coming of age]
3

last rites

MX final prayers or religious ceremonies for someone who is dying:
A priest came to give him the last rites.
Definition of rite from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic RELIGION
Word of the Day
The RELIGION
Word of the Day is:
reincarnation

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