votive

[ voh-tiv ]

adjective
  1. offered, given, dedicated, etc., in accordance with a vow: a votive offering.

  2. performed, undertaken, etc., in consequence of a vow.

  1. of the nature of or expressive of a wish or desire.

Origin of votive

1
1585–95; <Latin vōtīvus, equivalent to vōt(um) a vow + -īvus-ive

Other words from votive

  • vo·tive·ly, adverb
  • vo·tive·ness, noun

Words Nearby votive

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How to use votive in a sentence

  • Emperor Ferdinand also visited it and left, as a votive offering, his gold pectoral chain on the altar.

  • In the suburb is the celebrated temple Asclepieium, full of votive offerings, among which is the Antigonus of Apelles.

  • They brought them wreaths of flowers and other votive offerings.

    Margaret of Anjou | Jacob Abbott.
  • She was on her knees, the mellow points of the votive candles lighting her uplifted face in a glow of serene radiance.

    The Wasted Generation | Owen Johnson
  • On some votive stones the characters were red, cut out in round pieces of granite with a white underlayer.

British Dictionary definitions for votive

votive

/ (ˈvəʊtɪv) /


adjective
  1. offered, given, undertaken, performed or dedicated in fulfilment of or in accordance with a vow

  2. RC Church optional; not prescribed; having the nature of a voluntary offering: a votive Mass; a votive candle

Origin of votive

1
C16: from Latin vōtīvus promised by a vow, from vōtum a vow

Derived forms of votive

  • votively, adverb
  • votiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012