rite
Other forms: rites
A rite is a ceremony or event that leads to a new phase of life, like high school graduation or a bat mitzvah.
Rites are rituals. Religions in particular have many rites, which include celebrations and sacraments such as baptism or confession. But people also use this word for any kind of event that signifies moving through a stage of life. For a football player, getting your first touchdown is a "rite of passage." Even a job interview could be considered a rite — it's a traditional ritual, something everyone has to go through before landing a first job.
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any customary observance or practicesynonyms: ritualtypes:rite of passagea ritual performed in some cultures at times when an individual changes status (as from adolescence to adulthood)civil marriagea marriage performed by a government official rather than by a clergymanlove matcha marriage for love's sake; not an arranged marriageremarriagethe act of marrying again
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an established ceremony prescribed by a religion“the rite of baptism”synonyms: religious ritetypes:vigil, watchthe rite of staying awake for devotional purposes (especially on the eve of a religious festival)last ritesrites performed in connection with a death or burialorgysecret rite in the cults of ancient Greek or Roman deities involving singing and dancing and drinking and sexual activitycircumcisionthe act of circumcising performed on males eight days after birth as a Jewish and Muslim religious riteliturgya rite or body of rites prescribed for public worshipofficea religious rite or service prescribed by ecclesiastical authoritiesagrypniaa vigil before certain feasts (as e.g. Easter)Berit, Berith, Bris, Briss, Briththe Jewish rite of circumcision performed on a male child on the eighth day of his lifeChristian liturgythe Christian worship servicesDivine Officecanonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church)Little Officea Roman Catholic office honoring the Virgin Mary; similar to but shorter than the Divine OfficeOffice of the Deadan office read or sung before a burial mass in the Roman Catholic Churchtype of:
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Vocabulary lists containing rite
from Act II Scene ii of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" Full text is available here.
In this comedy, two Athenian couples and a troupe of actors become unwitting pawns in a squabble between a fairy king and queen.