Ritual

rit′ū-al, adj. consisting of or prescribing rites.— n. manner of performing divine service, or a book containing it: the body of rites employed in the church: the code of ceremonies observed by an organisation, as the ritual of the Freemasons.— ns. Rit′ūalism , systems of rituals or prescribed forms of religion: the observance of them: the name popularly given to the great increase of ceremonial and symbolism by means of special vestments, ., in the Church of England since about 1860-65: Rit′ūalist , one skilled in or devoted to a ritual: one of the party devoted to ritualism in the Church of England.— adj. Ritūalist′ic , pertaining to the ritual.— adv. Rit′ūally . [L. ritual is ; cf. Rite .]