FromLate Latinoffertorium, from the participle stem ofoffere(“to offer”).
offertory (pluraloffertories)
- (Christianity) Aprayer said or sung as ananthem whileofferings of bread and wine are placed on thealtar during the Roman CatholicMass or the AnglicanCommunion service.[from 14th c.]
- (Christianity) The part of theEucharist service when offerings of bread and wine are placed on the altar and when any collection is taken; also, themoney or other thingscollected.[from 15th c.]
1914,Stephen Leacock,Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich:Before a month had passed the congregation at the evening service at St. Asaph's Church was so slender that theoffertory, as Mr. Furlong senior himself calculated, was scarcely sufficient to pay the overhead charge of collecting it.
1922,Upton Sinclair,They Call Me Carpenter:I sat through the sermon, and theoffertory, and the recessional.
1971,Keith Thomas,Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published2012, page30:Even the coins in theoffertory were accredited with magical value; there were numerous popular superstitions about the magical value of communion silver as a cure for illness or a lucky charm against danger.
- (Christianity, historical) Alinen orsilkencloth anciently used in various ceremonies connected with the administration of theEucharist.
the offering of sacremental bread and wine to God during a church service
money offered or donated during a church service
the part of a church service when offerings are collected
music sung or played during the offertory of a church service
offertory
- (Christianity)offertory
1387–1400,Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, inThe Canterbury Tales, [Westminster:William Caxton, published1478],→OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor,The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […],[London]: […] [Richard Grafton for]Iohn Reynes […],1542,→OCLC:But alderbest he sang anoffertory: / For well he wiste, when that song was sung, / He muste preach […].- (pleaseadd an English translation of this quotation)
