Rosaries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rosary \Ro"sa*ry\, n.; pl. {Rosaries}. [LL. rosarium a string of
     beads, L. rosarium a place planted with roses, rosa a rose:
     cf. F. rosaire. See {Rose}.]
     1. A bed of roses, or place where roses grow. "Thick rosaries
        of scented thorn." --Tennyson.
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     2. (R.C.Ch.) A series of prayers (see Note below) arranged to
        be recited in order, on beads; also, a string of beads by
        which the prayers are counted.
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              His idolized book, and the whole rosary of his
              prayers.                              --Milton.
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     Note: A rosary consists of fifteen decades. Each decade
           contains ten Ave Marias marked by small beads, preceded
           by a Paternoster, marked by a larger bead, and
           concluded by a Gloria Patri. Five decades make a
           chaplet, a third part of the rosary. --Bp. Fitzpatrick.
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     3. A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of
        beautiful thoughts or of literary selections.
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              Every day propound to yourself a rosary or chaplet
              of good works to present to God at night. --Jer.
                                                    Taylor.
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     4. A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently
        circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny.
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     {Rosary shell} (Zool.), any marine gastropod shell of the
        genus {Monodonta}. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and
        pearly.
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