liturgy

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable or uncountablereligion

   The fixed form of prayers, readings, and rituals used in public religious worship.

   Grammar: Uncountable for worship in general; countable for a particular set of services, such as the daily liturgy.

   Patterns

   • the liturgy of a church
   • follow the liturgy
   • reform the liturgy

   The liturgy includes hymns, readings, and a set order of prayer.

   Visitors were invited to follow the liturgy in the printed program.

Word forms

Common combinations

follow the liturgy

Servers follow the liturgy with practiced timing.

reform the liturgy

The council voted to reform the liturgy in simpler language.

Eastern liturgy

The Eastern liturgy uses chant and incense.

liturgy and ritual

Students compared liturgy and ritual across traditions.

Synonyms and how they differ

rite

A rite is one set act or ceremony; liturgy is the fuller ordered pattern of communal worship.

ritual

Ritual is broader and may be secular; liturgy specifically belongs to formal religious worship.

service

A service is one gathering; liturgy can mean the repeated structure within many services.

Word family

liturgical adjective

Relating to liturgy or formal worship.

liturgist noun

A person who designs or studies liturgy.

Commonly confused: liturgy or literature?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “liturgy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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