prayer beads
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A string of beads, typically with a cross or other religious symbol, used by members of various faiths to count repetitions of prayers, mantras, or devotional phrases. The most common form in the Western context is the Catholic rosary.
Examples of Usage
- She held her prayer beads tightly while reciting the Hail Mary.
- The monk moved a bead on his prayer beads with each repetition of the mantra.
- A set of wooden prayer beads was found on the altar.
Advanced Usage
- To tell one's beads: An older, formal phrase meaning to count one's prayers using the beads.
- The devout woman would tell her beads each evening.
Variants and Related Words
- Rosary (n): Specifically refers to the Catholic set of prayer beads and the sequence of prayers recited using them.
- Chaplet (n): A term for a circlet of prayer beads, often shorter than a full rosary, used for a particular set of prayers.
- Mala (n): A string of prayer beads used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Dharmic traditions for counting mantras or breaths.
Synonyms
- Rosary
- Chaplet
- Mala (in Eastern religious contexts)
Related Idioms
- To clutch one's pearls/prayer beads: A modern, often humorous idiom implying a reaction of exaggerated shock, offense, or prudishness.
- Don't clutch your prayer beads; it was just a joke.
Noun
- a string of beads used in counting prayers (especially by Catholics)