family altarn.
/ˌfam(ᵻ)lɪ ˈɔːltə/, /ˌfaml̩ɪ ˈɔːltə/, /ˌfam(ᵻ)lɪ ˈɒltə/, /ˌfaml̩ɪ ˈɒltə/, U.S. /ˌfæm(ə)li ˈɔltər/, /ˌfæm(ə)li ˈɑltər/ A place or structure in the home reserved for religious ritual or prayer; in Christian use, frequently used in figurative contexts relating to family prayers.
ΚΠ
1693 O. Heywood (title) The family altar, erected to the honour of the Eternal God.
1737 J. Barnard Call to Parents 14 The Light of Nature taught the Heathen to rear up their Family Altars, and the very Turks pray in their Families, and shall not Christians!
1800 J. M. Ray in E. Brown et al. Four Serm. ii. 77 Let us daily assemble them [sc. our household] for the solemn worship of God before the family altar.
1866 Mothers' Friend New Ser. 7 18 Morning and evening the pious mother gathered her little household around her, and the incense acceptable to God went up daily from that family altar to His mercy-seat.
1959 R. de L. Kirkbride Tamiko 120 A small wooden structure in the alcove which Ivan recognized as a god-shelf, or family altar.
1997 J. Bowker World Relig. 109/1 (caption) The memorial tablet will later be placed in the Buddhist family altar and given offerings of food and water.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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