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Webster 1913 Edition

Votary

Vo′ta-ry

,
Adj.
[From L.
votus
, p. p.
vovere
to vow, to devote. See
Vote
,
Vow
.]
Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.
Votary
resolution is made equipollent to custom.
Bacon.

Vo′ta-ry

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Votaries
.
One devoted, consecrated, or engaged by a vow or promise; hence, especially, one devoted, given, or addicted, to some particular service, worship, study, or state of life.
“You are already love’s firm votary.”
Shak.
'T was coldness of the
votary
, not the prayer, that was in fault.
Bp. Fell.
But thou, my
votary
, weepest thou?
Emerson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Votary

VO'TARY

,
Adj.
[from L. votus, from voveo. See Vow.]
Devoted; promised; consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow.
Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom.

VO'TARY

,
Noun.
One devoted, consecrated or engaged by a vow or promise; hence more generally, one devoted, given or addicted to some particular service, worship, study or state of life. Every goddess of antiquity had her votaries. Every pursuit or study has now its votaries. One is a votary to mathematics, another is a votary to music, and alas, a great portion of the world are votaries of sensual pleasures.
It was the coldness of the votary, not the prayer, which was in fault.

Definition 2024

votary

votary

English

Adjective

votary ‎(comparative more votary, superlative most votary)

  1. Consecrated by a vow or promise; consequent on a vow; devoted; promised.
    • Francis Bacon
      Votary resolution is made equipollent to custom.

Noun

votary ‎(plural votaries)

  1. A person, such as a monk or nun, who lives a religious life according to vows they have made
  2. A devotee of a particular religion or cult
  3. A devout or zealous worshipper
  4. Someone who is devoted to a particular pursuit etc; an enthusiast.
    • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13
      Gerty was dressed simply but with the instinctive taste of a votary of Dame Fashion for she felt that there was just a might that he might be out.

Quotations

enthusiast
  • 1893, Henry James, Collaboration
    He is such a votary of the modern that he was inevitably interested in the girl of the future and had matched one reform with another, being ready to marry without a penny, as the clearest way of expressing his appreciation, this favourable specimen of the type.

Etymology

From Latin votus, past participle of vovere ‎(“to vow, to devote”).

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