Definition

Noun: 1. A person who is fervently devoted, as by a vow, to a particular cause, person, or pursuit. This devotion is often intense and single-minded, resembling religious dedication. 2. A devout adherent of a religion or cult; a person bound by religious vows. This can refer to a monk, nun, or other consecrated worshipper, especially in a non-Christian context.

Examples of Usage

• Sense 1 (Devoted adherent):
  • She was a lifelong votary of environmental conservation.
  • The artist was a true votary of classical techniques.
• Sense 2 (Religious devotee):
  • The temple was inhabited by votaries who had taken vows of silence.
  • In ancient Rome, a votary of Vesta served as a priestess.

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a level of sacrifice or exclusive focus due to the devotion.
  • As a votary of minimalism, he owned very few possessions.
• It can be used figuratively to emphasize extreme dedication in secular fields.
  • He was a votary of the scientific method, trusting only empirical evidence.

Variants and Related Words

• Devotee (n.): A person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something. (Less formal and intense than ).
• Disciple (n.): A personal follower of a teacher or leader, especially during the teacher's lifetime.
• Acolyte (n.): An assistant or follower; in religion, a person assisting a priest in a service.

Synonyms

• Adherent
• Follower
• Enthusiast
• Aficionado
• Zealot (carries a more extreme, sometimes fanatical connotation)

Related Phrases

• To be a votary of: This is the standard construction to indicate what someone is devoted to.
  • She was a votary of justice.

Noun

1. a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity
   • the cultured votary of science
2. a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
   • a votary of Aphrodite
3. one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service
   • monasteries of votaries