offertory

noun

of·​fer·​to·​ry ˈȯ-fər-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˈȯ-fə-,

ˈä-

plural offertories

1

often capitalized

a

: the eucharistic offering of bread and wine to God before they are consecrated

b

: a verse from a Psalm said or sung at the beginning of the offertory

2

a

: the period of collection and presentation of the offerings of the congregation at public worship

b

: a musical composition played or sung during an offertory

Examples of offertory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Gratian was on her best behavior that November Sunday and reached full artistic glory as Janet Lumpkin played the Johann Pachelbel offertory hymn. —Dallas News, 23 Nov. 2022

There are similar challenges in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where in-person attendance is roughly a quarter of pre-pandemic levels and offertory revenue is down about 10% after plunging 30% early in the outbreak. —David Crary, Star Tribune, 3 Oct. 2020

About 60% of the parish’s offertory transactions come electronically, and 52% of its members give online, the top figures in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. —Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, 6 Dec. 2019

Stanley also served as an offertory collector during weekly Mass for many years. —courant.com, 17 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English offertorie, from Medieval Latin offertorium, from Late Latin offerre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for offertory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory

Kids Definition

offertory

noun

of·​fer·​to·​ry ˈȯf-ə(r)-ˌtōr-ē 

ˈäf-,

-ˌtȯr-

plural offertories

1

often capitalized

a

: the offering of the sacramental bread and wine to God before they are consecrated

b

: a verse from a psalm said or sung at the beginning of the offertory

2

a

: the collection and presentation of the offerings of the congregation in church

b

: the music played or sung during an offertory