Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ad orientem

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.12 in modern English

Syllables: ad ori-en-tem
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Facing liturgical east, that is, in the same direction as (and thus, away from) the congregation.

adj

Describing worship facing liturgical east.

noun

Ellipsis of ad orientem worship or ad orientem posture.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"For that reason, I have restored the venerable ad orientem position when I celebrate Mass at the Cathedral."
"It was catechism by incense, rood screens, gorgeous vestments and ad orientem Masses chanted from high altars that scrape the heavens."
"One faction within the Syro-Malabar Church favored the use of ad orientem in the liturgy — "to the east," with the presider's back to the congregation."
"Fr Kalathil says that just like there is a demand for Versus Populum in Ernakulam-Angamaly there are strong proponents of Ad Orientem in other dioceses."

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin ad orientem (literally “to the east”).

Usage

Uncountable

Questions

What does ad orientem mean?: Facing liturgical east, that is, in the same direction as (and thus, away from) the congregation.
Where does ad orientem come from?: Unadapted borrowing from Latin ad orientem (literally “to the east”).

How to pronounce ad orientem

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