Definition

Noun: A person who is paid to pray for the soul of another; a professional intercessor, especially one retained to offer prayers on behalf of a benefactor.

Usage

The term is historical and refers to a specific social and religious role, primarily in medieval and early modern Christian contexts. A bedesman was formally employed or supported to pray for the spiritual benefit, particularly the salvation of the soul, of a living or deceased patron.

Examples

• The wealthy merchant hired a bedesman to pray daily for the eternal rest of his late wife's soul.
• In his will, the lord of the manor provided an annual stipend for a bedesman to offer prayers for his family's salvation.
• The monastery supported several bedesmen whose sole duty was to intercede for their benefactors.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a bedesman": To retain the services of such a prayerful intercessor, often seen as an act of piety and charity.
  • The king was known to have many bedesmen praying for the welfare of the realm.

Variants and Related Words

• Beadsman: An archaic variant spelling of 'bedesman'. The term is etymologically linked to 'bede', meaning prayer (from Old English , "to pray"), and later associated with the 'beads' of a rosary used in prayer.
• Almsman: A person who lives on alms or charity; while similar in receiving support, an almsman was not necessarily contracted specifically for prayer.

Synonyms

• Intercessor: One who intervenes or prays on behalf of another.
• Prayer: (In this specific, now rare sense) A person who prays professionally.
• Chaplain: A cleric assigned to serve a particular group, institution, or person, which could include similar intercessory duties.

Notes on Meaning

This word is now largely obsolete and found primarily in historical texts. It reflects a past practice where spiritual services, like prayer, were formally commissioned. The role combined elements of religious devotion, employment, and social welfare.

Noun

1. a person who is paid to pray for the soul of another