Belief & Ritual
Society · 111 words
Levelsall
Practise these 111 words
Learn with flashcardsno clock, no typing
The words
111 words
- absolution/æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/noun · C1The formal forgiveness of sins.
- afterlife/ˈɑːftəˌlaɪf/noun · B2Existence believed to follow death.
- agnostic/aɡˈnɒstɪk/noun · C1A person who thinks it cannot be known whether a god exists.
- altar/ˈɒl.tə/noun · B2The raised place where offerings are made.
- angel/ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/noun · A2A heavenly messenger.
- atheist/ˈeɪ.θi.ɪst/noun · B2+A person who believes there is no god.
- baptism/ˈbæptɪzəm/noun · B2The rite of admitting somebody with water.
- bishop/ˈbɪʃəp/noun · B2A senior clergyman in charge of many churches.
- blasphemy/ˈblæs.fə.mi/noun · C1Speech that treats sacred things with contempt.
- blessing/ˈblɛs.ɪŋ/noun · B2Words asking for good to come to somebody.
- burial/ˈbɛɹi.əl/noun · C1Placing a body in the ground.
- candlelight/ˈkæn.dl̩ˌlaɪt/noun · B2The soft light of burning wicks at a ceremony.
- cathedral/kəˈθiːdɹəl/noun · B2A very large and important church, often centuries old.
- ceremony/ˈsɛɹ.ɪ.mə.ni/noun · B1A formal event with fixed rituals, like weddings and medals.
- chant/t͡ʃɑːnt/noun · B2Words repeated in a rhythmic, singing voice.
- chapel/ˈt͡ʃæp.əl/noun · B1A small building or room for Christian worship.
- charm/tʃɑːm/noun · B2The pleasing quality that makes people instantly like someone.
- commandment/kəˈmɑːndmənt/noun · B2A rule given by a god that must be obeyed.
- communion/kəˈmjuːnjən/noun · B2The sharing of bread and wine as a sacred act.
- confession/kənˈfɛʃən/noun · B1The moment a suspect admits they really did it.
- confirmation/ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/noun · C1The rite of confirming a young person in their faith.
- congregation/ˌkɒŋɡɹɪˈɡeɪʃən/noun · C1The people gathered for a religious service.
- convent/ˈkɒn.vɛnt/noun · B2The house where nuns live together.
- convert/ˈkɒn.vət/verb · B2To change something from one form or belief into another.
- covenant/ˈkʌv.ən.ənt/noun · C1A solemn binding agreement, especially with a god.
- creed/kɹiːd/noun · C1A short formal statement of what a faith believes.
- cremation/kɹɪˈmeɪʃən/noun · B2+Reducing a body to ashes by fire.
- curse/kɜːs/noun · A2+Words spoken to bring harm upon somebody.
- deity/ˈdiː.ɪ.ti/noun · C1A god or goddess.
- demon/ˈdiː.mən/noun · B1An evil spirit.
- devout/dɪˈvaʊt/adjective · C1Deeply and sincerely religious.
- disciple/dɪˈsaɪ.pəl/noun · B2A close follower who learns from a teacher.
- divine/dɪˈvaɪn/adjective · B2Belonging to a god; also, absolutely wonderful.
- doctrine/ˈdɒk.tɹɪn/noun · C1The set of beliefs a religion officially teaches.
- enlightenment/ɪnˈlaɪtənmənt/noun · C1The state of complete spiritual understanding.
- eternal/ɪˈtɜː.nl̩/adjective · B1Lasting for ever, without beginning or end.
- eulogy/ˈjuː.lə.d͡ʒi/noun · C1A speech praising somebody who has died.
- exorcism/ˈɛk.sɔː.sɪ.zəm/noun · C2A ceremony to drive an evil spirit out.
- faith/feɪθ/noun · B2Complete trust held even without proof.
- fasting/ˈfæstɪŋ/noun · B2+Going without food for a religious reason.
- feast daynoun · B2A day set aside to celebrate a saint or an event.
- festival/ˈfɛstɪvəl/noun · B1A yearly celebration of a sacred event.
- funeral ritenoun · C1The ceremony held when somebody is buried or burned.
- ghost/ɡəʊst/noun · A2The spirit of a dead person appearing to the living.
- gospel/ˈɡɒspəl/noun · B2One of the four accounts of the life of Jesus.
- grace/ɡɹeɪs/noun · C1Undeserved kindness given freely.
- heaven/ˈhɛvən/noun · A2The dwelling place of a god and the blessed.
- hell/hɛl/noun · A2A place of punishment after death.
- heresy/ˈhɛɹəsi/noun · C1A belief judged to contradict the accepted teaching.
- holy/ˈhəʊli/adjective · B1Belonging to God or religion; deeply respected.
- hymnbooknoun · C1The collection of songs used in worship.
- idol/ˈaɪ.dl̩/noun · B1+An image worshipped as a god.
- imam/ˈiːmɑːm/noun · B2+The person who leads prayer in a mosque.
- incense/ˈɪnsɛn(t)s/noun · B2+Sweet-smelling smoke burned in worship.
- karma/ˈkɐɾ.mɑː/noun · B1+The idea that your acts shape what happens to you later.
- meditation/mɛdɪˈteɪʃn̩/noun · C1Quiet focused attention practised to calm the mind.
- mercy/ˈmɜːsi/noun · B1Choosing kindness toward someone you have the power to punish.
- mindfulness/ˈmaɪn(d)fʊlnəs/noun · B2Paying close, unjudging attention to the present moment.
- miracle/ˈmɪɹ.ə.kəl/noun · B1A wonderful event that seems impossible to explain.
- missionary/ˈmɪʃ.əˌnɛɹ.ɪ/noun · B2Someone who travels to spread a faith.
- monastery/ˈmɒnəstɹi/noun · B2The house where monks live and pray together.
- monk/mʌŋk/noun · B2A man who has taken vows and lives in a religious community.
- mortal/ˈmɔː.təl/adjective · B2Bound to die, as human beings are.
- mosque/mɑsk/noun · B1+The building with a dome and tall thin towers where Muslims pray.
- mourning/ˈmoɹnɪŋ/noun · B2The period and outward signs of grief for the dead.
- nun/nʌn/noun · B1A woman who has taken vows and lives in a religious community.
- offering/ˈɒfəɹɪŋ/noun · B2Something given to a god or to a temple.
- omen/ˈəʊ̯mən/noun · B2+A sign taken to show what will happen.
- oracle/ˈɔɹəkəl/noun · B2+A person or place through which a god was said to answer.
- parable/ˈpaɹəbəl/noun · C2A short story told to teach a moral lesson.
- paradise/ˈpæɹədaɪs/noun · B1A place of perfect happiness after death.
- penance/ˈpɛn.əns/noun · C1An act done to show sorrow for a sin.
- pilgrim/ˈpɪlɡɹɪm/noun · B2Someone travelling to a holy place.
- pious/ˈpaɪəs/adjective · C1Showing careful religious duty.
- prayer/pɹɛə/noun · B1Words addressed to a god, spoken or silent.
- preacher/ˈpɹiːt͡ʃəː/noun · B1Someone who speaks publicly about belief.
- priest/ˈpɹiːst/noun · B1A person authorised to lead worship and give rites.
- procession/pɹəˈsɛʃən/noun · B2+A line of people walking together in ceremony.
- prophecy/ˈpɹɒfɪsi/noun · B2+A statement about what a god will bring to pass.
- prophet/ˈpɹɒf.ɪt/noun · B2A person believed to speak the words of a god.
- psalm/sɑːm/noun · C1A sacred song from the Hebrew scriptures.
- rabbi/ˈɹæ.baɪ/noun · B2A Jewish teacher and leader of a congregation.
- redemption/ɹɪˈdɛmpʃən/noun · B2Being bought back from sin or ruin.
- reincarnation/ˌɹiːɪŋkɑː(ɹ)ˈneɪʃən/noun · B2+The belief that a soul returns in another body.
- repent/ɹɪˈpɛnt/verb · B2To be sorry for wrongdoing and turn away from it.
- revelation/ˌɹɛv.əˈleɪ.ʃən/noun · C1Knowledge believed to be disclosed by a god.
- rite/ɹaɪt/noun · B2+One established religious act, done in a fixed way.
- ritual/ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.u.əl/noun · B2A set of actions performed the same way every time.
- sabbathnoun · B2+The weekly day set aside for rest and worship.
- sacrament/ˈsækɹəmənt/noun · C1One of the formal rites regarded as carrying grace.
- sacred/ˈseɪkɹɪd/adjective · B1Set apart as holy and not to be treated lightly.
- sacrifice/ˈsæk.ɹɪ.faɪs/noun · B2Giving up something precious for a greater cause.
- salvation/sælˈveɪ.ʃn̩/noun · C1Being saved from sin and its consequences.
- sanctuary/ˈsæŋktjʊəɹi/noun · B2A protected safe place where hunted creatures cannot be touched.
- scripture/ˈskɹɪpt͡ʃɚ/noun · B2The writings a religion holds sacred.
- secular/ˈsɛkjʊlə/adjective · C1Not connected with religion.
- sermon/ˈsɜː.mən/noun · B2A talk given to a congregation about belief and conduct.
- shrine/ʃɹaɪ̯n/noun · B2A small holy place built around a sacred object.
- sin/ˈsɪn/noun · B1An act that breaks a religious law.
- soul/səʊl/noun · B1The part of a person believed to outlast the body.
- spirit/ˈspɪɹɪt/noun · B1A being without a body, or the immaterial part of a person.
- superstition/ˌs(j)uː.pə(ɹ)ˈstɪ.ʃən/noun · B2+A belief that some act brings luck or misfortune.
- synagogue/ˈsɪnəɡɒɡ/noun · B1+The building where Jewish people gather to worship.
- talisman/ˈtæl.ɪsˌmæn/noun · C1An object believed to hold protective power.
- temple/ˈtɛm.pl̩/noun · B2A holy building for prayer in many eastern religions.
- vigil/ˈvɪd͡ʒəl/noun · B2+Staying awake through the night to watch or pray.
- vow/vaʊ/noun · B2A deep formal promise, like the ones spoken at weddings.
- wake/ˈweɪ̯k/verb · A1To stop sleeping and open your eyes.
- wedding vownoun · B2The promise made at a marriage ceremony.
- worship/ˈwɜː.ʃɪp/verb · B2To show deep religious love and devotion.
- worshipper/ˈwɜːʃɪpə/noun · B2+A person taking part in an act of devotion.