breviary
Noun: 1. A liturgical book containing prayers, hymns, psalms, and readings for the canonical hours: In the Roman Catholic Church and some other Christian traditions, a breviary is the book used for the public or private recitation of the Divine Office, which is the set of daily prayers prescribed for clergy and members of religious orders.
The word "breviary" is a specific, formal term used primarily in a religious context. It refers to the physical book itself that contains the complete set of daily prayers.
- The priest spent an hour each morning praying from his breviary.
- As a nun, her most treasured possession was her well-worn breviary.
- The new edition of the breviary incorporated the latest liturgical reforms.
- "To say/sing/recite the breviary": This phrase describes the action of performing the prayers contained within the book.
- The monks gather in the chapel to chant the breviary each day.
- Breviaries (n): The standard plural form.
- The library's collection includes several historical breviaries.
- Prayer book: A more general term for a book containing prayers. However, a "prayer book" is not specific to the structured, daily Divine Office like a "breviary" is.
- Liturgical book: A broad category that includes missals, lectionaries, and breviaries.
The term is almost exclusively used within Christian (particularly Roman Catholic) ecclesiastical contexts. It does not refer to an abridged or shortened version of something (which is the meaning of the related adjective "breviate"). The core meaning is tied to the specific book for the Divine Office.
- (Roman Catholic Church) a book of prayers to be recited daily certain priests and members of religious orders