last rites

noun

1. a Catholic sacrament; a priest anoints a dying person with oil and prays for salvation (Freq. 1)

• Syn: ↑anointing of the sick, ↑extreme unction

• Hypernyms: ↑sacrament

2. rites performed in connection with a death or burial

• Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form

• Hypernyms: ↑rite, ↑religious rite

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Rom. Cath. Ch.

See anointing of the sick.

[1925-30]

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last rites plural noun

Religious rites performed for a person close to death

• • •

Main Entry: ↑last

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last rites,

religious rites performed by a priest for a dying or dead person; extreme unction. They include the saying of prayers and the administration Holy Communion.

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plural n. (in the Christian Church) rites administered to a person who is about to die

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noun

the last rites

: a religious ceremony that is performed by a Catholic priest for someone who is dying

The priest administered the last rites.

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the ˌlast ˈrites [last rites] noun plural

a Christian religious ceremony that a priest performs for, and in the presence of, a dying person

•

to administer the last rites to sb

•

to receive the last rites