ritual English · revision 10502

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1570|origins=la ritualis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.u.əl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from French ritual (1564, in Rabelais) or directly from Latin [[m|la|rītuālis|t=relating to rites]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from rītus, a religious observance, ceremony, custom (see [[rite]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to or consisting of rites: 1570, the 1560s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Done as a rite is from before 1631 (the 1630s), as in ''ritual murder'' (by 1896).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The noun, the prescribed order of a religious service, is from 1649 (the 1640s),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and a book of rites from 1656.^(OED 1989) Ritual observances, ceremonial acts, are from before 1656, often somewhat pejorative, as ''mere ritual''.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In extended use, a regular social or psychological pattern of behaviour, it is from 1947.^(OED 1989) ''Ritualist'' is from 1657, ''ritualism'' from 1843 and ''ritualistic'' from 1850.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1570 – relating to rites.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1649 – a form of service (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1656 – a book of rites.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1843 – ritualism.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1947 – habitual behaviour.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The prescribed form of a religious or other ceremony.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A ceremonial act or series of acts.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A procedure or routine followed regularly and faithfully.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(psychology)'' A repetitive behaviour performed compulsively.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, relating to or done as a rite.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ritually]]

+ * [[antiritual]]

+ * [[unritual]]

+ * [[ritualization]]

+ * [[ritualize]]

+ * [[ritualist]]

+ * [[ritualistic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[rite]]

+ * [[ritualism]]

+ * [[ceremony]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}