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ritual

rit·u·al

ritual

 
 
pronunciation:
rI chu l
parts of speech:
noun, adjective
features:
Word Combinations (noun, adjective), Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: an established and prescribed procedure for a ceremony, esp. a religious one.
Drinking sips of rice wine is part of the traditional marriage ritual in Japan.
 
synonyms:
ceremonial, ceremony, observance, office, rite
similar words:
celebration, custom, formality, liturgy, practice, sacrament, service, worship
definition 2: a body of such established ceremonies; rites.
The Catholic church uses a different ritual from the Lutheran church.
synonyms:
rites
similar words:
celebration, ceremonial, ceremonies, custom, formalities, observances, offices
definition 3: a pattern of behavior repeated in a fixed form and order as prescribed by custom, tradition, or authority.
He always observed a ritual of reading his mail from the bottom of the stack to the top.Going through her morning ritual took a considerable amount of time in the bathroom.The children's bedtime ritual ends with the reading of a story.
similar words:
ceremony, custom, habit, practice, praxis, rite, rote, routine, rule, wont
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part of speech: adjective
definition: of or pertaining to a ritual or rituals.
ritual cleansing
similar words:
ceremonial, ceremonious, formal
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derivation: ritually (adv.)
Word Explorer
See
  behavior, celebration, culture, religion, tradition