votary

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English

Etymology

From Latin votus, past participle of vovere (“to vow, to devote”).

Pronunciation

Adjective
Noun

Adjective

votary (comparative more votary, superlative most votary)

  1. Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.
    • 1625, Francis , “Of Custom and Education”, in The Essayes , 3rd edition, London: Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 232:
      And votary Reſolution is made Equipollent to Cuſtome

Translations

Noun

votary (plural votaries)

  1. A person, such as a monk or nun, who lives a religious life according to vows they have made.
  2. A devotee of a particular religion or cult.
  3. A devout or zealous worshipper.
  4. (by extension) Someone who is devoted to a particular pursuit etc.
    Synonyms: enthusiast; see also Thesaurus:enthusiast
    • 1771, [Henry Mackenzie], The Man of Feeling, 2nd edition, London: Printed for T Cadell, , →OCLC, page 79:
      But it is not ſimply of the progreſs of luxury that we have to complain: did its votaries keep in their own ſphere of thoughtleſs diſſipation, we might deſpiſe them without emotion; but the frivolous purſuits of pleaſure are mingled with the moſt important concerns of the ſtate;
    • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XXXI, in The History of Pendennis. , volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, , published 1849, →OCLC, page 304:
      The room was commonly emptied after that, or only left in possession of a very few and persevering votaries of pleasure.
    • 1893, Henry James, “Collaboration”, in The Wheel of Time; Collaboration; Owen Wingrave, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers publishers, →OCLC, page 109:
      He is such a votary of the modern that he was inevitably interested in the girl of the future and had matched one reform with another, being ready to marry without a penny, as the clearest way of expressing his appreciation, this favourable specimen of the type.
    • 1920, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, “Sexual Proprieties and Improprieties”, in Searchlights on Health‎:
      The indulgence of illicit pleasures, says Dr. S. Pancoast, sooner or later is sure to entail the most loathsome diseases on their votaries.
    • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, , →OCLC, part II , page 335:
      Gerty was dressed simply but with the instinctive taste of a votary of Dame Fashion for she felt that there was just a might that he might be out.
  5. A loyal supporter or devoted admirer of a person or institution.

Translations

References

Anagrams

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