Religion & Belief

obsequies C2

/ˈɑːbsɪkwiz/ funeral rites or ceremonies, especially formal ones M S

iconoclast C2

/aɪˈkɑn.əˌklæst/ One who destroys religious images or icons, especially an opponent of the Orthodox Church in the 8th and 9th centuries, or a Puritan during the European Reformation. M S

encyclical C2

/ɛnˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/ an authoritative pastoral letter issued by the pope and circulated broadly within the Roman Catholic Church M S

churchman C2

/ˈtʃɝːtʃmən/ a male member of the clergy or another man holding authority in a Christian church M S

Gehenna C2

/ɡɪˈhɛnə/ a place or state of extreme suffering or misery M S

missal C2

/ˈmɪsəl/ a book containing the prayers and texts used in the Roman Catholic Mass M S

impiety C2

/ɪmˈpaɪəti/ lack of reverence or respect for a god, religion, or something regarded as sacred M S

puritanism C2

/ˈpjʊr.ə.təˌnɪz.əm/ the religious beliefs, practices, and historical movement of the Protestant Puritans M S

pontifical C2

/pɑːnˈtɪfɪkəl/ pompously self-important or pretentiously dogmatic M S

blessedness C2

/ˈblɛsɪdnəs/ a state of complete happiness, fulfillment, or spiritual well-being M S

scriptural C2

/ˈskrɪptʃɚəl/ relating to, contained in, or derived from the sacred writings of a religion, especially the Bible M S

censer C2

/ˈsɛn.sɚ/ a vessel in which incense is burned, especially a covered metal container swung on chains during a religious ceremony M S

metempsychosis C2

/mɪˌtɛm(p).sɪˈkoʊ.sɪs/ the supposed transmigration of a soul at death into another body, whether human, animal, or another living form M S

conjuration C2

/ˌkɑndʒəˈreɪʃən/ the supposed act of summoning a spirit or supernatural being by magic M S

bogle C2

/ˈboʊ.ɡəl/ a goblin, specter, or other frightening supernatural being in northern British and Scots folklore M S

ecclesiastic C2

/ɪˌkliːziˈæstɪk/ a member of the clergy, especially in a Christian church; formal M S

hierophant C2

/ˈhaɪərəˌfænt/ in ancient Greece, a priest who revealed and interpreted sacred mysteries, especially at Eleusis M S

surplice C2

/ˈsɝplɪs/ a loose white Christian liturgical vestment with wide sleeves, worn over a cassock by clergy and other ministers M S

glebe C2

/ɡliːb/ land belonging to a parish church or ecclesiastical benefice and providing income for its clergy M S

demoniac C2

/dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/ of, resembling, or apparently possessed by a demon; frenzied and terrifying M S

vestment C2

/ˈvɛstmənt/ a ceremonial garment worn by a member of the clergy during worship M S

beatitude C2

/biˈætəˌtud/ a state of supreme happiness or blessedness M S

deify C2

/ˈdiː.ə.faɪ/ consider as a god or godlike M S

catechist C2

/ˈkætəkɪst/ One who practices catechesis, i.e., catechizes catechumens; a teacher who instructs students in the doctrines of a particular Christian denomination typically in preparation for confirmation. M S

solemnize C2

/ˈsɑːləmnaɪz/ to perform the official or religious ceremony of a marriage M S

stoup C2

/stuːp/ a small basin for holy water, especially one fixed near the entrance of a church M S

sectarianism C2

/sekˈter.i.ə.nɪ.zəm/ rigid or exclusive loyalty to a religious, political, or ideological group, especially when it causes hostility toward other groups M S

philter C2

/ˈfɪltɚ/ a supposedly magical potion, especially one intended to arouse love M S

aureole C2

/ˈɔriˌoʊl/ a halo or circle of radiant light around the head or body of a sacred figure in art M S

flagellate C2

/ˈflæ.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/ to whip or scourge, especially as punishment or religious mortification M S

polytheism C2

/ˈpɑːliˌθiːɪzəm/ belief in or worship of more than one god M S

theosophy C2

/θiˈɑs.ə.fi/ religious or mystical philosophy claiming direct spiritual insight into the nature of God, the soul, or the divine world M S

saintliness C2

/ˈseɪnt.li.nəs/ the quality of being exceptionally holy, virtuous, selfless, or like a saint M S

soutane C2

/suːˈtɑːn/ a long, close-fitting robe worn by some Christian clergy M S

propitiate C2

/ˌpɹəˈpɪʃieɪt/ To conciliate, appease, or make peace with someone, particularly a god or spirit. M S

revivalist C2

/rɪˈvaɪ.və.lɪst/ a preacher who conducts Christian religious revivals, often traveling between communities M S

monasticism C2

/məˈnæstɪsɪzəm/ a religious way of life in which people withdraw from ordinary society and live under spiritual discipline, often in a community M S

sylph C2

/sɪlf/ in the occult system of Paracelsus and later literature, an elemental spirit of the air, usually invisible and often represented as female M S

numinous C2

/ˈn(j)umənəs/ evincing the presence of a deity M S

baptistry C2

/ˈbæp.tɪ.stri/ a part of a church, or a separate building beside one, where baptisms are performed M S

monstrance C2

/ˈmɑːn.strəns/ an ornamental vessel with a transparent central compartment in which the consecrated Eucharistic host is displayed for veneration M S

purgation C2

/pɝːˈɡeɪʃən/ the act of cleansing someone or something of impurity, guilt, or defilement M S

paraclete C2

/ˈpæɹəkliːt/ An advocate or helper M S

orison C2

/ˈɒɹɪsən/ A prayer. M S

evangelize C2

/ɪˈvændʒəlaɪz/ to preach the Christian gospel, especially in order to convert people M S

psalmist C2

/ˈsɑːmɪst/ a writer or composer of psalms, especially one of the biblical Psalms M S

demoniacal C2

/ˌdiːməˈnaɪəkəl/ resembling, caused by, or characteristic of a demon; wildly evil or frenzied M S

benefice C2

/ˈbɛn.ə.fɪs/ an endowed church office or living that provides income to its holder M S

evangelization C2

/ɪˌvændʒələˈzeɪʃən/ the activity of spreading the Christian gospel or seeking to convert people to Christianity M S

unreligious C2

/ˌʌnrɪˈlɪdʒəs/ not believing in, practicing, or showing an interest in religion M S

sectary C2

/ˈsɛktəri/ a member or adherent of a particular religious sect, school of thought, or party; now rare M S

phylactery C2

/fəˈlæktəri/ either of two small leather cases containing Torah passages, traditionally worn during weekday morning prayer; a tefilla M S

theosophist C2

/θiˈɑːsəfɪst/ a follower or advocate of theosophy, especially a member of the modern Theosophical movement M S

hymnbook C2

/ˈhɪmˌbʊk/ a book containing a collection of hymns for worship or communal singing M S

Vulgate C2

/ˈvʌlɡeɪt/ the Latin version of the Bible chiefly prepared by Saint Jerome and adopted as the Catholic Church's standard Latin text M S

animistic C2

/ˌænəˈmɪstɪk/ relating to animism, the belief that spirits or souls inhabit natural beings, objects, or phenomena M S

doxology C2

/dɑkˈsɑləd͡ʒi/ a short hymn or formula praising God, often sung at the end of a Christian service M S

curacy C2

/ˈkjʊrəsi/ the office, appointment, or period of service of a curate, including the stipend attached to the post M S

religieuse C2

/rə.li.ˈʒjøz/ dated: a nun or other woman belonging to a religious order M S

psalmody C2

/ˈsɑ.mə.di/ the act of singing psalms or hymns M S

chimerical C2

/kɪˈmɛɹɪkəl/ produced by a wildly fanciful imagination M S

votary C2

/ˈvoʊtəri/ a devoted follower, supporter, or practitioner of a cause, leader, or pursuit M S

uncreated C2

/ˌʌnkriˈeɪtɪd/ not brought into existence by an act of creation; existing without having been created M S

kirkyard C2

/ˈkɪɹkjaɹd/ A churchyard, especially one in Scotland. M S

proselyte C2

/ˈprɑsəˌlaɪt/ a person newly converted to a religion, doctrine, or cause M S

consistorial C2

/ˌkɑnsɪˈstɔriəl/ of or relating to a consistory, especially an ecclesiastical council, court, or governing body M S

transcendentalist C2

/ˌtɹænsɛnˈdɛntəlɪst/ a follower of transcendentalism, especially the nineteenth-century American movement that emphasized intuition, individual conscience, and the spiritual value of nature M S

diablerie C2

/diˈɑːbləri/ sorcery, witchcraft, or supposed dealings with devils M S

salvationist C2

/sælˈveɪ.ʃən.ɪst/ a person who preaches or strongly emphasizes religious salvation, especially a member of the Salvation Army M S

houri C2

/ˈhʊri/ in Islamic tradition, one of the beautiful companions of the blessed in Paradise M S

dalmatic C2

/dælˈmæt.ɪk/ a long, loose, wide-sleeved liturgical vestment worn especially by a deacon at Mass or the Eucharist M S

spiritualize C2

/ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əˌlaɪz/ to make a person, experience, or activity more spiritual, elevated, or concerned with the soul M S

quietist C2

/ˈkwaɪətɪst/ a follower of Quietism, a mystical tradition emphasizing passive contemplation and surrender of the will M S

sacerdotal C2

/ˌsæsərˈdoʊtəl/ relating to priests, the priesthood, or priestly functions M S

martyrology C2

/ˌmɑːr.təˈrɑː.lə.dʒi/ a calendar, register, or book listing martyrs and saints, often arranged by feast day M S

deistic C2

/deɪˈɪstɪk/ relating to deism, the belief in a creator known through reason rather than revelation and generally not intervening in the universe M S

conventicle C2

/kənˈvɛntəkəl/ historical: a secret, unauthorized, or legally prohibited meeting for religious worship M S

catechize C2

/ˈkætəˌkaɪz/ to instruct someone in religious doctrine by means of questions and answers M S

abbacy C2

/ˈæbəsi/ the office, dignity, jurisdiction, estate, or term of service of an abbot or abbess M S

atheistical C2

/ˌeɪθiˈɪstɪkəl/ Of or relating to atheism; atheistic. M S

secularly C2

In a way not connected with religion. M S

supernal C2

/suˈpɝnəl/ literary: belonging to heaven, the sky, or a spiritual realm M S

prelapsarian C2

/ˌpriː.læpˈser.i.ən/ relating to the state of humanity before the biblical Fall M S

dedicatory C2

/ˈdɛdəkəˌtɔri/ serving as or relating to a dedication M S

canonry C2

/ˈkænənri/ the office, benefice, or prebend held by a canon of a cathedral or collegiate church M S

diabolism C2

/daɪˈæ.bəˌlɪ.zəm/ belief in, worship of, or ritual dealings with devils M S

quietism C2

/ˈkwaɪəˌtɪzəm/ a Christian mystical doctrine emphasizing passive contemplation and the surrender of personal will to God M S

sudarium C2

/ˌsuˈdɛɹ.i.əm/ in ancient Rome, a small linen cloth carried for wiping perspiration from the face; a handkerchief M S

priestcraft C2

/ˈpriːstˌkræft/ derogatory: the use of priestly authority or religious influence for political or worldly control M S

fire-worshiper C2

/ˈfaɪr ˌwɝː.ʃɪ.pɚ/ a person who worships or religiously venerates fire M S

chalice veil C2

/ˈtʃæl.ɪs ˌveɪl/ a cloth used to cover a chalice and its associated vessels before or after their use in Christian liturgy, especially at Mass M S

solemnization C2

/ˌsɑːləmnəˈzeɪʃən/ the official or ceremonial performance of a marriage M S

pneumatology C2

/ˌnuːməˈtɑːlədʒi/ the study of spirits or spiritual beings; in older philosophy, the study of the soul and God M S

presentee C2

/ˌprɛzənˈtiː/ a person formally presented or nominated for an office, benefice, award, or other position M S

impropriation C2

/ɪmˌproʊpriˈeɪʃən/ English ecclesiastical law: the transfer of a church benefice or its tithes into the hands of a layperson or secular corporation M S

provisor C2

/prəˈvaɪzər/ historical church law: a person appointed by papal provision to a benefice, sometimes before the office became vacant M S