ex voto

¹

[ eks woh-toh; English eks voh-toh ]

adjective

, Latin.

1. from, or in pursuance of, a vow.

ex-voto

²

[ eks-voh-toh ]

noun

, plural ex-vo·tos.

1. a painting or other object left as an offering in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude, as for recovery from an illness or injury.

ex voto

/ ɛks ˈvəʊtəʊ /

adverb

1. in accordance with a vow

noun

1. an offering made in fulfilment of a vow

Word History and Origins

Origin of ex voto¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Origin of ex voto²

First recorded in 1815–25; from Latin ex vōtō literally, “out of a vow”; ex- ¹( def ), vow

Example Sentences

Young British photographer Alys Tomlinson won first prize in the Discovery category of the 2018 Sony World photography awards for her black and white series Ex Voto, which was shot at religious pilgrimage sites in France, Ireland and Poland.

From The Guardian

This made it all the more charming to learn there are 360 churches on the island, many of them little chapels built by petitioners who had received the prosperity they had prayed for — a kind of Greek Orthodox ex voto.

From New York Times

Two additional clumps support each canvas as it leans against the wall like some icon or ex voto, reminding us that painting is a universal, not Western, art form.

From New York Times

Though the piece contains glimmers of the semiotic wordplay that Mr. Johns engaged in with his neo-Dada works, “Ex Voto” feels like a facile latter-day version of the exercise.

From New York Times

It was dear to me as the instrument of freedom, and was worthy of being hung as an 'ex voto' on the altar of liberty.

From Project Gutenberg