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Glite Dictionary
🙏 A Catholic priest 🎓 A school pupil ⛪ Related to Oratory
Oratorian

Oratorian

9.9
Relating to the Oratory, a Catholic group of priests founded by St Philip Neri
  • adjective
  • /ˌɔːrəˈtɔːriən/
: oratoriano
  • The Oratorian tradition emphasizes the importance of community prayer and spiritual retreats.

Examples

  • The Oratorian schools are known for their rigorous academic programs and moral instruction.

  • He became well-versed in the Oratorian practices of charity and musical education.

  • News of her intent threw the Oratorian priests of the Roman congregation at S. Maria in Vallicella into such a panic that, when their attempts to dissuade Anna failed, they resorted to hiding their founder's corpse to protect it from mutilation.

    Academic text (1994)

Surface Forms

Oratorian positive

Morphology

Oratorian = oratory (semi-transparent) = oratory + ian

The suffix '-ian' predictably means 'relating to' or 'member of', but the referent here is a specific institution (the Oratory) rather than the general meaning 'public speaking', which may mislead learners.

Etymology

Oratorian comes from the Oratory, a religious community started by St Philip Neri. Oratory comes from Latin orare 'to pray' and is also linked to orator 'public speaker', so Oratorian describes things connected to that prayerful, preaching group.