reliquary

noun rel·i·quary \ ˈre-lə-ˌkwer-ē \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

Definition of reliquary

plural reliquaries

: a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept

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Recent Examples of reliquary from the Web

Those busts showcased pieces from a bookish collection that included earrings of miniature bejeweled reliquaries and golden books, the open pages engraved with a poem in almost miraculously tiny lettering.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Hamish Bowles Goes Inside Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda and Sartoria Events in New York City," 9 Apr. 2018
Among the 13 vibrant paintings, a reliquary from the Gardner’s collection is reunited with three from Florence, which together depict the Virgin Mary’s life.

— BostonGlobe.com, "The Ticket: What’s happening in the local arts world," 30 Mar. 2018
There are multiple legends of Saint Valentine, and different reliquaries in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Scotland, England and France all claim to have bones attributed to a Saint Valentine.

— olivia b. waxman, Time, "The Mysterious History of the Real Saint Behind Valentine's Day," 14 Feb. 2018
According to the Catholic publication Crux, the reliquary containing the fragment was also stolen.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Sliver of Saint’s Brain Stolen From Italian Basilica," 8 June 2017
Prior to the theft, people flocked to the Don Bosco Basilica to pray in front of its reliquary, McKenna reports.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Sliver of Saint’s Brain Stolen From Italian Basilica," 8 June 2017
The Eutaw Street corridor The walkway that stretches between the Warehouse and the stadium is both a thoroughfare and a reliquary of home run history.

— peter schmuck, baltimoresun.com, "Peter Schmuck's Camden Yards 25 for 25: The best of Oriole Park after 25 years," 18 Aug. 2017
Older fans reached out to touch it, like pilgrims at a reliquary.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "WGC-Bridgestone Open 2017: Phil Mickelson still wins the fans' hearts, anyway -- Bill Livingston," 5 Aug. 2017
Like tiny reliquaries, daguerreotypes kept safe the image of one’s beloved.

— nancy west, The Atlantic, "Pictures of Death," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reliquary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reliquary

French reliquaire, from Medieval Latin reliquiarium, from reliquia relic — more at relic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1652

in the meaning defined above

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Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma

RELIQUARY Defined for English Language Learners

reliquary

noun

Definition of reliquary for English Language Learners

: a container that is used to hold holy objects (called relics)

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See words that rhyme with reliquary Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reliquary

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reliquary

Definition of reliquary

Recent Examples of reliquary from the Web

Origin and Etymology of reliquary

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RELIQUARY Defined for English Language Learners

reliquary

Definition of reliquary for English Language Learners

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