| abbey |
a religious place or building where monks or nuns live. |
| ablution |
a washing or cleansing of oneself, esp. as part of a religious observance or ritual. [1/2 definitions] |
| acolyte |
a person who assists a clergyman in religious services, esp. Roman Catholic. [1/2 definitions] |
| altar |
a raised table or platform used for religious ceremonies. |
| altar boy |
a young male person who assists the clergy in religious services; acolyte. |
| altar girl |
a young female person who assists the clergy in religious services; acolyte. |
| anchorite |
one who has withdrawn into seclusion for religious reasons or purposes; hermit. |
| anoint |
to honor or make holy by applying oil as part of a religious ceremony. |
| anthem |
a religious song including words from the Bible. [1/2 definitions] |
| antiphon |
a song or part of a song to be sung in response, often in a religious service. |
| antireligious |
combined form of religious. |
| apocrypha |
any of various religious writings of unknown origin and questionable authenticity. (Cf. canon1.) [1/2 definitions] |
| apologetics |
(used with a sing. verb) the branch of theology dealing with the defense and proof of a religious faith, esp. Christianity. |
| apostate |
a person who abandons his or her religious faith, principles, cause, or the like. [1/2 definitions] |
| ascetic |
one who practices extreme self-denial, esp. of material comforts and pleasures, and esp. for religious reasons. [2/3 definitions] |
| ashram |
the residence, usu. secluded, of a Hindu philosopher or religious teacher to whom followers come for instruction. [2 definitions] |
| augur |
one who predicts the future or tries to obtain hidden knowledge by interpreting signs and omens, esp. an ancient Roman religious official with such a duty; soothsayer. [1/5 definitions] |
| ave |
Hail!; Hello!; Welcome! (used mainly in religious ceremony). [1/4 definitions] |
| Bahai |
a modern Iranian religion that is based on a doctrine of universal brotherhood, the equality of the sexes, and total religious tolerance. |
| baldachin |
a portable cloth canopy used in religious services. [1/3 definitions] |
| bar mitzvah |
a Jewish ceremony that celebrates a boy becoming an adult and the beginning of his religious duties. The bar mitzvah usually takes place when the boy is thirteen years old. |