noun
rite
ryt
noun
1
A formal ceremony or custom, especially one with religious or traditional significance.
"The wedding rite lasted almost an hour."
"Coming-of-age rites vary widely between cultures."
How to Use Rite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA set, often ceremonial, way of doing something — usually religious, traditional, or formal.
Common mistake
Easily confused with "right" and "write," which sound identical but mean completely different things.
Common pairings
rite of passage
religious rite
burial rite
Word Forms
rites plural
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The wedding _____ lasted almost an hour.
Etymology
From Latin ritus via Old French and Middle English, essentially unchanged in meaning since Roman times.