Definition of votive
1 : consisting of or expressing a vow, wish, or desire a votive prayer
2 : offered or performed in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion
votively
adverbvotiveness
nounPeople Are Reading
Recent Examples of votive from the Web
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Fragile, votive-like and smaller than lifesize, they’re crossed with the proto-Modern style of veiled, melting sculptural heads of Medardo Rosso, the celebrated 19th century Turin native.
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In the main dining room, lit by votive candles, a group of 15 were celebrating the birthday of YSL’s studio director, while waiters in tan hide aprons circulated with wine bottles and glasses.
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The mourners taped a photos of the woman and her children to the back of black plastic chairs and spelled her name out on the sidewalk with small votive candles.
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The mourners taped a photos of the woman and her children to the back of black plastic chairs and spelled her name out on the sidewalk with small votive candles.
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Across the empty nave was a small village of votive candles, lit by the living to remember their dead.
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There are but five tables, double-draped with thick tablecloths and topped with votive candles beneath opaque stenciled domes.
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Built as much as painted, they are supplemented with marbles; dried weeds; ribbon; small stones; and scraps of wood, shingle and jewelry — all of which enhance the votive quality.
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Over the centuries, people left an estimated 80,000 votive offerings of things like beads, weapons, mirrors and swords there.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'votive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of votive
Latin votivus, from votum vow
VOTIVE Defined for English Language Learners
votive
playDefinition of votive for English Language Learners
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: consisting of or expressing a religious vow, wish, or desire : offered or performed as an expression of thanks or devotion to God
Learn More about votive
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See words that rhyme with votive Britannica English: Translation of votive for Arabic speakers
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