2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rosary  \Ro"sa*ry\,  n.;  pl  {Rosaries}.  [LL.  rosarium  a  string  of 
  beads,  L.  rosarium  a  place  planted  with  roses,  rosa  a  rose: 
  cf  F.  rosaire  See  {Rose}.] 
  1.  A  bed  of  roses,  or  place  where  roses  grow.  ``Thick 
  rosaries  of  scented  thorn.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  2.  (R.C.Ch.)  A  series  of  prayers  (see  Note  below)  arranged  to 
  be  recited  in  order  on  beads;  also  a  string  of  beads  by 
  which  the  prayers  are  counted. 
 
  His  idolized  book,  and  the  whole  rosary  of  his 
  prayers.  --Milton. 
 
  Note:  A  rosary  consists  of  fifteen  decades.  Each  decade 
  contains  ten  Ave  Marias  marked  by  small  beads,  preceded 
  by  a  Paternoster,  marked  by  a  larger  bead,  and 
  concluded  by  a  Gloria  Patri.  Five  decades  make  a 
  chaplet,  a  third  part  of  the  rosary.  --Bp.  Fitzpatrick. 
 
  3.  A  chapelet;  a  garland;  a  series  or  collection,  as  of 
  beautiful  thoughts  or  of  literary  selections. 
 
  Every  day  propound  to  yourself  a  rosary  or  chaplet 
  of  good  works  to  present  to  God  at  night.  --Jer. 
  Taylor. 
 
  4.  A  coin  bearing  the  figure  of  a  rose,  fraudulently 
  circulated  in  Ireland  in  the  13th  century  for  a  penny. 
 
  {Rosary  shell}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  marine  gastropod  shell  of  the 
  genus  {Monodonta}.  They  are  top-shaped,  bright-colored  and 
  pearly. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  rosary 
  n  :  beads  used  in  counting  prayers  (especially  Catholic  rosary) 
  [syn:  {prayer  beads}] 

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