ritual

 
Pronunciation: /ˈrɪtʃʊəl/

noun

  • a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order: ancient fertility rituals [mass noun]: the role of ritual in religion
  • a prescribed order for performing a ritual ceremony, especially one characteristic of a particular religion or Church: she likes the High Church ritual
  • a series of actions or type of behaviour regularly and invariably followed by someone: her visits to Joy became a ritual

adjective

[attributive]
  • relating to or done as a religious or solemn rite: ritual burial a ritual murder
  • (of an action) arising from convention or habit: the players gathered for the ritual pre-match huddle

Derivatives

ritually

adverb

Origin:

late 16th century (as an adjective): from Latin ritualis, from ritus (see rite)