hebdomadary, n. and a.
(hɛbˈdɒmədərɪ)
Also 5–6 ebdomadary, -edary.
[ad. eccl. L. hebdomadāri-us, f. hebdomas hebdomad.]
A. n. R.C. Ch. A member of a chapter or convent, who took his (or her) weekly turn in the performance of the sacred offices of the Church.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 113 The mansiones also of the ebdomadaries, prestes, and minstres. 1450–1530 Myrr. our Ladye 127 Yt ys always sayde of the ebdomedary..to whome yt longeth rather to gyue blyssynge then to aske yt in that offyce. 1864 Greenshield Ann. Lesmahagow 13 While engaged in such services as they performed by weekly turns, monks were called ‘Hebdomadaries’. 1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 90. 1888 ‘Bernard’ From World to Cloister 29 The voice of the Hebdomadary was heard, as he prayed. |
B. adj. Hebdomadal, weekly; doing duty for a week.
| 1625 N. Carpenter Geog. Del. ii. vi. (1635) 97 Marriners make six degrees of change in the tides..The second Hebdomedary, or weekely. a 1631 Donne Serm. lxi. 614 An Hebdomadary righteousnesse, a Sabbatarian Righteousnesse is no righteousnesse. a 1711 Ken Hymns Evang. Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 7 Hebdomadary Priests neglect their turns. 1892 Speaker 30 July 141/1 Mr. Pinkerton, of the hebdomadary picnics. |