n.; 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] His idolized book, and the whole rosary of his prayers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of beautiful thoughts or of literary selections. [ 1913 Webster ] Every day propound to yourself a rosary or chaplet of good works to present to God at night. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny. [ 1913 Webster ]
Rosary shell (Zool.), any marine gastropod shell of the genus Monodonta. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and pearly. [ 1913 Webster ]
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