The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rosary \Ro"sa*ry\, n.; pl. Rosaries. [LL. rosarium a string of
beads, L. rosarium a place planted with roses, rosa a rose:
cf. F. rosaire. See Rose.]
1. A bed of roses, or place where roses grow. "Thick rosaries
of scented thorn." --Tennyson.
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2. (R.C.Ch.) A series of prayers (see Note below) arranged to
be recited in order, on beads; also, a string of beads by
which the prayers are counted.
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His idolized book, and the whole rosary of his
prayers. --Milton.
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Note: A rosary consists of fifteen decades. Each decade
contains ten Ave Marias marked by small beads, preceded
by a Paternoster, marked by a larger bead, and
concluded by a Gloria Patri. Five decades make a
chaplet, a third part of the rosary. --Bp. Fitzpatrick.
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3. A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of
beautiful thoughts or of literary selections.
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Every day propound to yourself a rosary or chaplet
of good works to present to God at night. --Jer.
Taylor.
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4. A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently
circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny.
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Rosary shell (Zool.), any marine gastropod shell of the
genus Monodonta. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and
pearly.
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