votary
/'voutəri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity
- the cultured votary of science
- a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult
- a votary of Aphrodite
- one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service
- monasteries of votaries