rosary

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.A bed of roses, or place where roses grow. "Thick rosaries of scented thorn." --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

His idolized book, and the whole rosary of his prayers.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3.A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of beautiful thoughts or of literary selections. [1913 Webster]

Every day propound to yourself a rosary or chaplet of good works to present to God at night.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]

4.A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny. [1913 Webster]

Rosary shell (Zool.), any marine gastropod shell of the genus Monodonta. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and pearly. [1913 Webster]