chantry

[ chan-tree, chahn- ]

noun

, Ecclesiastical.

, plural chan·tries.

1. an endowment for the singing or saying of Mass for the souls of the founders or of persons named by them.
2. a chapel or the like so endowed.
3. the priests of a chantry endowment.
4. a chapel attached to a church, used for minor services.

chantry

/ ˈtʃɑːntrɪ /

noun

1. an endowment for the singing of Masses for the soul of the founder or others designated by him
2. a chapel or altar so endowed
3. ( as modifier )

   a chantry priest

Word History and Origins

Origin of chantry¹

1300–50; Middle English chanterie < Middle French. See chant, -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of chantry¹

C14: from Old French chanterie, from chanter to sing; see chant

Example Sentences

One Friday toward the end of September the monks of the choir stood practicing in the chantry.

From Literature

The east end is an exhibition hall of shrines and chantries.

From The Guardian

The reference appears in the inquest into the inheritance after the death of Sir Andrew Gray, a chantry chaplain in Aberdeen's parish church of St Nicholas.

From BBC

He sat in his office, a chantry to many of the things that games mean today.

From The New Yorker

“Gareth’s blood,” said Mordred, “is not to be paid for by chantries, we think—however much it might pleasure the Bishop of Rochester.”

From Literature

Related Words

• chapel
• mosque
• parish
• sanctuary
• shrine
• synagogue
• temple