Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Rosary
Ro′sa-ry
,Noun.
pl.
Rosaries
(#)
. [LL.
rosarium
a string of beads, L. rosarium
a place planted with roses, rosa
a rose: cf. F. rosaire
. See Rose
.] 1.
A bed of roses, or place where roses grow.
“Thick rosaries of scented thorn.” Tennyson.
2.
(R.C.Ch.)
A series of prayers (see Note below) arranged to be recited in order, on beads; also, a string of beads by which the prayers are counted.
His idolized book, and the whole
rosary
of his prayers. Milton.
☞ A rosary consists of fifteen decades. Each decade contains ten Ave Marias marked by small beads, preceded by a Paternoster, marked by a larger bead, and concluded by a Gloria Patri. Five decades make a chaplet, a third part of the rosary.
Bp. Fitzpatrick.
3.
A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of beautiful thoughts or of literary selections.
Every day propound to yourself a
rosary
or chaplet of good works to present to God at night. Jer. Taylor.
4.
A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny.
Rosary shell
(Zool.)
, any marine gastropod shell of the genus
Monodonta
. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and pearly.Webster 1828 Edition
Rosary
RO'SARY
,Noun.
1.
A bed of roses, or place where roses grow.2.
A chaplet.3.
A string of beads used by Roman catholics, on which they count their prayers.