Wiktionary

votary

English edit

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

Adjective
Noun

Adjective edit

votary (comparative more votary, superlative most votary)

  1. Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.

Translations edit

Noun edit

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, London: Cassell, published 1886, pages 61–62:
      […] 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 31, in The History of Pendennis. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
      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[1], archived from the original on 13 October 2006:
      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[2]:
      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:
      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 edit

References edit

Anagrams edit

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