breviary

[ bree-vee-er-ee, brev-ee- ]
/ ˈbri viˌɛr i, ˈbrɛv i- /

noun, plural bre·vi·ar·ies.

Roman Catholic Church. a book containing all the daily psalms, hymns, prayers, lessons, etc., necessary for reciting the office.
a book of daily prayers and readings in some other churches.

Origin of breviary

First recorded in 1540–50, breviary is from the Latin word breviārium an abridgment. See brevi-, -ary

Example sentences from the Web for breviary

British Dictionary definitions for breviary

breviary
/ (ˈbriːvjərɪ) /

noun plural -ries

RC Church a book of psalms, hymns, prayers, etc, to be recited daily by clerics in major orders and certain members of religious orders as part of the divine office
a similar book in the Orthodox Church

Word Origin for breviary

C16: from Latin breviārium an abridged version, from breviāre to shorten, from brevis short