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votary
6 dictionary results for: Votary
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
vo·ta·ry       [voh-tuh-ree] Pronunciation Key noun, plural -ries, adjective
–noun Also, vo·ta·rist.
1.a person who is bound by solemn religious vows, as a monk or a nun.
2.an adherent of a religion or cult; a worshiper of a particular deity or sacred personage.
3.a person who is devoted or addicted to some subject or pursuit: a votary of jazz.
4.a devoted follower or admirer.
–adjective
5.consecrated by a vow.
6.of or pertaining to a vow.
[Origin: 1540–50; < L vōt(um) a vow + -ary]

—Synonyms 3. buff, fan, admirer, devotee.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
vo·ta·ry       (vō'tə-rē)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   pl. vo·ta·ries
    1. A person bound by vows to live a life of religious worship or service.
    2. A devout adherent of a cult or religion; a committed worshiper: the votaries of Aphrodite.
  2. A person who is fervently devoted, as to a leader or ideal; a faithful follower.
  3. A person who is filled with enthusiasm, as for a pursuit or hobby; an enthusiast.


[From Latin vōtum, vow; see vote.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
votary  (n.)
1546, "one consecrated by a vow," from L. votum (see vow). Originally "a monk or nun," general sense of "ardent devotee of some aim or pursuit" is from 1591 (in Shakespeare, originally in ref. to love).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
votary

noun
1. one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service; "monasteries of votaries" 
2. a priest or priestess (or consecrated worshipper) in a non-Christian religion or cult; "a votary of Aphrodite" 
3. a devoted (almost religiously so) adherent of a cause or person or activity; "the cultured votary of science" 

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Votary

Vo"ta*ry\, a. [From L. votus, p. p. vovere to vow, to devote. See Vote, Vow.] Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.

Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom. --Bacon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Votary

Vo"ta*ry\, n.; pl. Votaries. One devoted, consecrated, or engaged by a vow or promise; hence, especially, one devoted, given, or addicted, to some particular service, worship, study, or state of life. "You are already love's firm votary." --Shak.

'T was coldness of the votary, not the prayer, that was in fault. --Bp. Fell.

But thou, my votary, weepest thou? --Emerson.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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