a series of prayers, usually consisting of 15 decades of aves, each decade being preceded by a paternoster and followed by a Gloria Patri, one of the mysteries or events in the life of Christ or the Virgin Mary being recalled at each decade.
a string of beads used for counting these prayers during their recitation.
a similar string of beads consisting of five decades.
(among other religious bodies) a string of beads similarly used in praying.
a rose garden or a bed of roses.
Origin of rosary
1350–1400 for earlier sense; 1400–50 for sense “rose garden”; 1540–50 for def. 1; Middle English rosarie<Medieval Latin rosārium, in all current senses, Latin: rose garden, equivalent to ros(a) rose1 + -ārium-ary
On Wednesday mornings before mass, he recites the rosary in a special prayer of liberation from the chains of the devil.
Vatican and Pope Francis Seek New Demon Exorcists|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The parishioners began saying the Rosary as a call went in to 911.
As 2014 Began, a Fateful Path to a Catholic Priest’s Murder|Michael Daly|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The faithful were still saying the Rosary when the officers informed them that they had to leave.
As 2014 Began, a Fateful Path to a Catholic Priest’s Murder|Michael Daly|January 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stigler pressed his hand over the rosary he kept in his flight jacket.
Finding Humanity in the Darkness|Justin Green|March 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Maradona spent much of the game frantically gesticulating and clutching his rosary.
World Cup Primer|Joshua Robinson|June 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The Infant Saviour is turned towards her, and with one hand he crowns her with thorns, with the other he presents the rosary.
Walks in Rome|Augustus J.C. Hare
A rosary of large pearls was about his neck, and with this exception he wore no ornaments.
Confessions of a Thug|Philip Meadows Taylor
Some of Marie's "junk" was in his bag; her rosary lay in his breastpocket, along with the pin he had sent her at Christmas.
The Street of Seven Stars|Mary Roberts Rinehart
We stooped at a great wooden cross, on which an officer's Rosary hung; and then I saw the birds.
Behind the Scenes in Warring Germany|Edward Lyell Fox
Half led, half carried, I went staggering on beside him like a drunken man, clutching a rosary and a packet of love-letters.
Slippy McGee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man|Marie Conway Oemler
British Dictionary definitions for rosary
rosary
/ (ˈrəʊzərɪ) /
nounplural-saries
RC Church
a series of prayers counted on a string of beads, usually consisting of five or 15 decades of Aves, each decade beginning with a Paternoster and ending with a Gloria
a string of 55 or 165 beads used to count these prayers as they are recited
(in other religions) a similar string of beads used in praying
a bed or garden of roses
an archaic word for garland (def. 1)
Word Origin for rosary
C14: from Latin rosārium rose garden, from rosārius of roses, from rosarose1
A set of prayers common in the Roman Catholic Church, said during meditation on events in the lives of Jesus and of Mary, the mother of Jesus. A rosary is also the string of beads that the worshiper uses to count the prayers.