breviary

[ bree-vee-er-ee, brev-ee- ]

noun

, plural bre·vi·ar·ies.

1. Roman Catholic Church. a book containing all the daily psalms, hymns, prayers, lessons, etc., necessary for reciting the office.
2. a book of daily prayers and readings in some other churches.

breviary

/ ˈbriːvjərɪ /

noun

1. RC Church a book of psalms, hymns, prayers, etc, to be recited daily by clerics in major orders and certain members of religious orders as part of the divine office
2. a similar book in the Orthodox Church

Word History and Origins

Origin of breviary¹

First recorded in 1540–50, breviary is from the Latin word breviārium an abridgment. See brevi-, -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of breviary¹

C16: from Latin breviārium an abridged version, from breviāre to shorten, from brevis short

Example Sentences

For decades, many people of my generation have turned to her text-driven work as a breviary of cultural and political insight.

From Washington Post

He had a worn leather breviary stuffed with prayers and Mass cards he’d been collecting for years, and he read through them all at the dining-room table every night during the 11 o’clock news.

From New York Times

On the wall hung a little cupboard which held Brother Luke’s few personal belongings and his breviary.

From Literature

But I was deeply engaged with most of the rest of this exhibition, especially the panels that come together as a personal and secular breviary of dying.

From Washington Post

In later years, he served as the librarian of Durham Cathedral and passed many happy months at the Vatican Library poring over its medieval English missals and breviaries.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• recap
• rundown