Religious Rituals And Practices

noun the act of pouring a liquid over someone or something

• The priest performed the affusion ceremony by pouring water over the baby's head.
• I heard that some people prefer affusion over immersion for baptisms.
• I'm not a fan of affusion showers, I prefer a strong stream of water.
• The affusion of compliments from her colleagues made her feel appreciated.

verb to smear or rub with oil or an oily substance as part of a religious ceremony or ritual

• The priest will anoint the baby with holy oil during the baptism ceremony.
• My grandma likes to anoint her plants with a special fertilizer to help them grow.
• I heard that new rapper got anointed as the next big thing in hip hop.
• The committee decided to anoint her as the new leader of the organization.

noun the place where a dead body is buried

• The burial ceremony was held at the local cemetery.
• We attended the burial of our neighbor's pet hamster.
• I heard there was a burial party at the old abandoned house last night.
• The burial of his hopes and dreams left him feeling lost and defeated.

noun a person who is receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion in order to be baptized

adjective relating to or characteristic of catechumens

• The catechumen studied diligently to prepare for their baptism into the Christian faith.
• The catechumen is excited to officially join the church after completing their lessons.
• Yo, did you hear that the catechumen is finally getting baptized this Sunday?
• Becoming a catechumen in the world of art, she eagerly absorbed all the knowledge and skills taught to her.

noun a formal religious or public occasion, typically celebrating a particular event or anniversary

adjective ceremonial (relating to or used in a ceremony)

• The graduation ceremony will be held in the university auditorium.
• I heard the wedding ceremony is going to be at the beach.
• Let's crash the award ceremony and see some celebrities!
• The changing of seasons is like a ceremony performed by nature.

noun the act of whipping or flogging as a form of punishment or self-discipline

• Flagellation was a common form of punishment in ancient Rome.
• I heard they used flagellation in that old movie as a form of torture.
• They say flagellation was used to teach that guy a lesson.
• The self-flagellation of constantly criticizing oneself can be damaging to one's mental health.

adjective relating to or suitable for a funeral

• The funebrial procession made its way through the town, honoring the deceased with dignity and respect.
• The funebrial service was a somber affair, with everyone dressed in black and speaking in hushed tones.
• I've never been to a funebrial before, but I imagine it's pretty depressing.
• The end of the relationship felt like a funebrial, with both parties mourning the loss of what once was.

noun a series of words said as a magic spell or charm

• The wizard recited an ancient incantation to summon the spirits.
• She whispered a strange incantation under her breath.
• Dude, did you hear that crazy incantation he was chanting?
• Her words seemed like a powerful incantation, casting a spell over everyone in the room.

noun the action of beginning something new or introducing something new

• The initiation ceremony marked the beginning of their membership in the organization.
• The initiation process was a bit intimidating, but everyone was welcoming.
• I heard the initiation for that club is a real trip.
• Learning to ride a bike was my initiation into the world of independence.

noun a sound made by a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral

• The tolling of the knell signaled the end of the funeral service.
• The sound of the knell echoed through the quiet village.
• I could feel the knell of impending doom hanging over us.
• The closing of the factory was the knell of the town's economy.

noun a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

verb to act in an excessively subservient manner

• The ambassador was expected to kowtow to the king as a sign of respect.
• I refuse to kowtow to unreasonable demands from my boss.
• Don't kowtow to anyone just to fit in.
• She refused to kowtow to societal norms and lived life on her own terms.

noun a gift or object offered to a deity or saint as an act of devotion or thanksgiving

• The archaeological site contained many ancient votive offerings dedicated to the gods.
• People left votive offerings at the shrine in hopes of receiving blessings.
• I heard she left a votive offering at the church for good luck.
• Her donation to the charity was a votive offering of gratitude for all the help she had received.