4 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

rite

noun

1: an established ceremony prescribed by a religion; "the rite of baptism" [syn: {religious rite}]

2: any customary observance or practice [syn: {ritual}]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:

Rite \Rite\, noun [L. ritus; cf. Skr. r[=i]ti a stream, a running, way, manner, ri to flow: cf. F. rit, rite. CF. {Rivulet}.] The act of performing divine or solemn service, as established by law, precept, or custom; a formal act of religion or other solemn duty; a solemn observance; a ceremony; as, the rites of freemasonry.

He looked with indifference on rites, names, and forms of ecclesiastical polity. --Macaulay.

Syn: Form; ceremony; observance; ordinance.

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

87 Moby Thesaurus words for "rite": amenities, anniversaries, baccalaureate service, celebrating, celebration, ceremonial, ceremonies, ceremony, civilities, commemoration, commencement, convocation, custom, dignities, dressing ship, duty, elegancies, empty formality, exercise, exercises, fanfare, fanfaronade, festivity, flourish of trumpets, form, form of worship, formal, formalities, formality, formula, formulary, function, gentilities, graces, graduation, graduation exercises, holiday, holy rite, inaugural, inauguration, initiation, institution, jubilee, liturgy, marking the occasion, memorialization, memory, mode of worship, mummery, mystery, observance, occasion, office, order of worship, ordinance, ovation, performance, practice, prescribed form, procedure, rejoicing, religious ceremony, religious rites, remembrance, revel, rite de passage, rite of passage, rites, ritual, ritual observance, rituality, rituals, routine, sacrament, sacramental, salute, salvo, service, solemn observance, solemnity, solemnization, testimonial, testimonial banquet, testimonial dinner, toast, tribute, triumph

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

RITE, noun A religious or semi-religious ceremony fixed by law, precept or custom, with the essential oil of sincerity carefully squeezed out of it.

  Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. Site by: KM